Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE155
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, traditionally attributed to the late seventh or early eighth century, which forms part of a broader defensive system in the Welsh-English borderland. The section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park in Denbighshire comprises a substantial bank and ditch, characteristic of the dyke's construction throughout its course. Though running parallel to Offa's Dyke further south, Wat's Dyke is generally considered the earlier work and may have served to demarcate or defend territories during the period of Anglo-Saxon expansion into the Marches. This particular stretch remains archaeologically significant as an Early Medieval monument, though the full original extent and primary purpose of the dyke continue to be subjects of scholarly discussion.

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE155. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date, traditionally attributed to the late seventh or early eighth century, which forms part of a broader defensive system in the Welsh-English borderland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE155.

What period does Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park date from?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park 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 Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park?

Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park 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 DE155.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including The Holyhead Road: the Chirk Embankment and earlier trackways (7 km), Roman military site at Rhyn Park (7 km), A 1.43km length of the Ellesmere Canal and associated features at Chirk Bank (7.2 km).

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