Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE286
Period
Early Medieval
Site type
Linear Earthwork
Broad class
Monument
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date that forms part of an extensive defensive system in the Welsh-English borderland. The section at Crispin Lane in Wrexham consists of a substantial bank and ditch arrangement typical of the dyke's construction, representing one of the most significant archaeological remains of the period in Denbighshire. Dating to the 7th or 8th century, the monument is attributed to the kingdom of Mercia or contemporary Welsh polities and served as a territorial or defensive boundary in the early medieval period. The dyke stretches for many miles across the borderland, and the Crispin Lane section preserves important evidence of its original form and engineering, making it a crucial resource for understanding early medieval political geography and construction techniques.

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE286. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date that forms part of an extensive defensive system in the Welsh-English borderland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE286.

What period does Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham date from?

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham dates from the early medieval period, and is classified as a linear earthwork. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham?

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is DE286.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Middle Sontley to Black Brook Bridge (5.1 km), Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd (6.3 km), Gardden Camp (7.2 km).

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