2018

TL5864 : Ditch, Devil's Dyke

taken 5 years ago, near to Swaffham Prior, Cambridgeshire, England

This is 1 of 3 images, with title Ditch, Devil's Dyke in this square
Ditch, Devil's Dyke
Ditch, Devil's Dyke
The Devil's Dyke is one of the best preserved Anglo-Saxon earthworks of its kind in the country dating from the 5th or 6th century AD. It consists of a 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long bank and ditch running in a south-east direction from the village of Reach to Woodditton. When it was created, it sealed a narrow land corridor between the southern edge the then undrained and water-logged fenland in the north-west, and dense woodlands in the south, so making circumvention difficult and forming an effective barrier. The dyke crossed three important Roman roads, including the ancient Icknield Way, and may thus have served as a way of controlling trade and movement in and out of the area.

It was probably built by the East Anglians against their Mercian neighbours. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and other sources record the frequently tense relations between the two kingdoms, and it is likely that this provoked the need to strengthen the border and control access.

It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM). It also contains chalk grassland of international importance and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Try Archive LinkExternal link for more information.

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Grid Square
TL5864, 53 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
N Chadwick   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Saturday, 27 October, 2018   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 1 February, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TL 5805 6473 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:15.4822N 0:18.8547E
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TL 5807 6473
View Direction
West-northwest (about 292 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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