Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE154
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 a substantial defensive boundary constructed in the eighth century, traditionally attributed to King Offa of Mercia or his predecessors. The section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd in Denbighshire represents a preserved portion of this important frontier work, which ran for approximately sixty miles along the border between English and Welsh territories. The dyke typically comprises a substantial bank with an associated ditch, representing a significant engineering undertaking designed to control movement and assert territorial authority across the landscape. This Cadw-designated monument (SAM DE154) remains an important archaeological resource for understanding early medieval political geography and the material culture of frontier maintenance in the eighth century.

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE154. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of early medieval date that forms part of a substantial defensive boundary constructed in the eighth century, traditionally attributed to King Offa of Mercia or his predecessors. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE154.

What period does Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd date from?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd dates from the early medieval period, and is classified as a linear earthwork. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd 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 DE154.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Black Brook Bridge to Pentre-Clawdd?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Medieval cross in St Mary's churchyard, Dudleston (7.1 km), Offa's Dyke: Chirk Park Section extending NE from the Lake (7.5 km), Castell y Waun Castle Mound (7.8 km).

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