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Chester's Dikes is a settlement in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland. The site lies on bedrock of the Gala Group, a wacke formation dating to the Telychian period of the Early Silurian, which provides a relatively firm foundation across this rolling upland landscape.
The monument comprises a settlement whose specific character and period of occupation are reflected in its relationship to the local geology and surrounding terrain. Wacke bedrock in this region has historically influenced settlement patterns and construction practices, providing stone suitable for building whilst presenting challenges for agriculture on steeper slopes.
As a scheduled monument, Chester's Dikes is legally protected against unauthorised disturbance or excavation. The site contributes to understanding settlement distribution across Berwickshire, an area with substantial archaeological evidence of human occupation across multiple periods. The designation recognises its significance to the heritage and history of the Scottish Borders region.
Chester's Dikes, settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12420. View the official record →
Chester's Dikes is a settlement in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12420.
Chester's Dikes, settlement is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM12420.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rathburne House, tower house 180m NNW of (3.8 km), Longformacus House,enclosed cremation cemetery 1450m SW of (4.8 km), Dirrington,farmstead 400m N of (5.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Chester's Dikes, settlement's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Chester's Dikes, settlement stands on Gala Group, bedrock that formed in the Telychian. The rock here is wacke.