Monument record MDO1692 - Dyke, Melcombe Horsey

A linear earthwork crossing the ridge of the hill, and consisting of a bank with a ditch along the western side. One of several dykes around Lyscombe Bottom.

This is one of a group of dykes of non-defensive character which appears to be associated with the surrounding Iron Age/Romano British field systems. <1-2> ST 74100228 to ST 74210209 The non-defensive dyke remains physically as described by RCHM <1>. It extends in earthwork form for a total of 240.0m and is defined by a bank of average 7.0m wide, which rises up to 1.2m high above the bottom of a silted ditch 5.0m wide, and 0.7m deep. At the southern end, the curving line of the boundary work is now defined across ploughland by a vague unsurveyable scarp. The earthwork is generally in fair condition, and almost totally obscured by dense scrub. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. The probable 'Celtic' field remains, at the northwest end of the dyke still survive as plough - damaged, fragmentary scarps, up to 0.5m high. <3>

Record last edited

Feb 7 2022 1:56PM