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Offa's Dyke is a linear earthwork monument constructed during the reign of King Offa of Mercia in the late eighth century, forming a major boundary work between the Kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms to the west. The section situated approximately 650 metres east of Cwm-sanaham in Shropshire preserves a substantial portion of this extensive defensive and administrative frontier, which extends for over 150 kilometres along the Welsh border. At this location the dyke comprises a prominent bank with an associated ditch on its western face, typical of the monument's construction throughout much of its course. This section of Offa's Dyke represents one of the most significant early medieval earthworks in Britain, demonstrating the engineering capability and territorial authority of the Mercian kingdom during the Anglo-Saxon period.
Offa's Dyke: section 650m east of Cwm-sanaham is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1020906. View the official record →
Offa's Dyke is a linear earthwork monument constructed during the reign of King Offa of Mercia in the late eighth century, forming a major boundary work between the Kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms to the west. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1020906.
Offa's Dyke: section 650m east of Cwm-sanaham 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 1020906.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Offa's Dyke: Section extending through Great Ffrydd Wood 1693m S to footpath leading to Woodhouse Lane (4.9 km), Offa's Dyke: Section extending 200m S to Pool House, Rhos-y-Meirch (5.8 km), Mynachdy Moated Enclosure (7.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Offa's Dyke: section 650m east of Cwm-sanaham'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.
Offa's Dyke: section 650m east of Cwm-sanaham stands on Ludlow Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ludlow. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.