Scheduled MonumentsEnglandBuckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane

Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane

England
List entry 1021202
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch is a linear earthwork of Iron Age date, comprising a 875-metre section of the broader Grim's Ditch system that extends across the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane survives as a substantial bank and ditch formation, characteristic of territorial or defensive boundaries of the later Iron Age period. Grim's Ditch represents one of the most significant prehistoric linear monuments in southern England, though its precise function remains debated among scholars, with interpretations ranging from territorial demarcation to livestock management or defence. The monument's preservation and scheduled status reflect its importance as evidence of Iron Age land organisation and settlement patterns in the region.

Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1021202. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane?

Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch is a linear earthwork of Iron Age date, comprising a 875-metre section of the broader Grim's Ditch system that extends across the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1021202.

Who is responsible for protecting Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane?

Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1021202.

What other scheduled monuments are near Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 875m long section between Leylands Farm and Shire Lane?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Buckinghamshire Grim's Ditch: 1500m long section from Great Widmoor Wood to Oaken Grove (2.6 km), Moated site and associated earthworks in Bray's Wood (3.4 km), Hawridge Court ringwork (4.4 km).

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