Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE165
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 or boundary system in the Welsh-English borderlands. This section, situated south of Ruthin Road in Denbighshire, consists of a substantial bank and ditch construction typical of the monument as a whole, which extends for approximately forty miles across the region. The dyke is traditionally attributed to the 8th century, though scholarly debate continues regarding its precise chronology and whether it was constructed as a single continuous campaign or developed over time. Its strategic placement suggests a function as either a territorial boundary or defensive barrier between Welsh and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms during the Early Medieval period.

Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE165. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date that forms part of a substantial defensive or boundary system in the Welsh-English borderlands. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE165.

What period does Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road date from?

Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin 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 South of Ruthin Road?

Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin 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 DE165.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke : Section South of Ruthin Road?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Gardden Camp (6 km), Offa's Dyke: Y Gardden Camp Section (6.1 km), Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park (6.1 km).

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