Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE152
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 that extends from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley in Denbighshire, Wales, and represents one of the most substantial Early Medieval monuments in the region. The dyke consists of a substantial bank and ditch construction that runs for considerable length across the landscape, marking a significant territorial boundary in the early medieval period. This section of the broader Wat's Dyke complex dates to the seventh or early eighth century and is traditionally associated with the Kingdom of Mercia, though its precise construction and purpose remain subjects of scholarly debate. The earthwork's impressive physical remains testify to the considerable labour investment required for its creation and maintenance, reflecting the political importance of demarcating boundaries during the Early Medieval period in the Welsh Marches.

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE152. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork that extends from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley in Denbighshire, Wales, and represents one of the most substantial Early Medieval monuments in the region. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE152.

What period does Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley date from?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley 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: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley 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 DE152.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Wynnstay Colliery Winding Engine House (5.1 km), Offa's Dyke: Section N of Home Farm (5.3 km), Darland Wood Round Barrows (5.9 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Erddig Park to Middle Sontley