Offa's Dyke: section two miles 780yds (3930m) long, from the stream W of Brook Cottage, Selattyn, to footpath crossing dyke W of Bron-y-Garth Also in Clwyd: Wales

Scheduled area

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History & significance

Offa's Dyke is a linear earthwork forming a substantial portion of the eighth-century frontier between the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms to the west. This particular section, extending approximately 3,930 metres from the stream west of Brook Cottage near Selattyn to a footpath crossing west of Bron-y-Garth, survives as a prominent ridge with ditch, standing as evidence of ambitious territorial demarcation undertaken during the reign of King Offa of Mercia in the late eighth century. The dyke in this region follows the natural topography of the Shropshire-Wales border whilst maintaining a consistent engineering design, comprising an earthen bank with a defensive ditch positioned on its western side facing the Welsh territories. This section represents one of the longest and best-preserved stretches of the monument and demonstrates the considerable labour investment and political authority required to construct such an extensive linear defence across varied terrain.

Offa's Dyke: section two miles 780yds (3930m) long, from the stream W of Brook Cottage, Selattyn, to footpath crossing dyke W of Bron-y-Garth Also in Clwyd: Wales is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1004765. View the official record →

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