Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road

Flintshire, Wales
Cadw SAM FL082
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, running through Flintshire in North Wales and forming part of a substantial defensive frontier system. This particular section extending from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road comprises a substantial bank and ditch construction typical of the dyke's character throughout its length. The monument dates to the late seventh or early eighth century and is traditionally attributed to Aethelbald of Mercia, though its construction and precise chronology remain subjects of scholarly debate. As a major territorial boundary demarcating the frontier between Anglo-Saxon Mercia and Welsh kingdoms, Wat's Dyke represents one of the most significant Early Medieval engineering works in Britain, predating the later and more famous Offa's Dyke by approximately a century.

Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference FL082. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date, running through Flintshire in North Wales and forming part of a substantial defensive frontier system. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference FL082.

What period does Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road date from?

Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road 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 from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road?

Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road 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 FL082.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke: Section from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rhual-Isaf Round Barrow (4.4 km), Wat's Dyke: Section N & E of New Brighton (4.5 km), The Bailey Hill, Mold (5 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 from Coed Llys to Chester-Holywell Road