Monument record MDO1942 - Cross dyke on Higher Hill, Piddletrenthide

A cross dyke consisting of a bank with a ditch downhill on its south-western side. The dyke may have continued to the south east, but any earthworks here have been ploughed away.

(45) Cross-dyke on Higher Hill runs NNW-SSE (72660218-72710208) for some 130 yds on the NW slope of the ridge, and curves W near its N end. To the SE it now ends against the ridgeway track and any continuation that there may once have been is ploughed out. The bank is 16 ft wide and 1 ft high, the ditch, which lies on the downhill or SW side, is 10 ft wide and 1 ft deep. Also, a possibly ancient bank and ditch extends from ST 72840235 to ST 72910221 (see plan). Between this feature and the cross dyke are other banks which are probably more recent. <2-3> ST 72680208 to ST 72660218 This cross dyke remains much as described by RCHM <2> though the southern end has been ploughed out for some 30.0 m reducing it in length to 100.0 m. It consists of a bank 5.0 m wide and 0.3 m high with a ditch 4.0 m wide 0.4 m deep on the south west downhill side. A counter scarp bank 0.2 m high runs along the lip of the ditch for some 54.0 m from the south end. ST 72920227 to ST 72860235 A second, slighter bank and ditch runs for 102.0 m north northwest to south-southeast. It is 4.0 m wide and 0.3 m high, with a vestigial ditch on the uphill northeast side. Neither are defensive and like other dykes in the area appear to be associated with the surrounding 'Celtic' field systems. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <4>

Record last edited

Jan 24 2022 8:34AM