Scheduled MonumentsWalesWat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court
Early Medieval · Linear Earthwork

Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE173
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 the wider defensive system traditionally attributed to Wat, an eighth-century ruler of Mercia. The sections at the Court in Denbighshire constitute a surviving portion of this substantial dike, which runs discontinuously across the Welsh borderland for approximately forty miles. The earthwork comprises a substantial bank with an associated ditch, representing a significant engineering undertaking designed to demarcate territory and control movement between Welsh and Anglo-Saxon lands. Dating evidence and scholarly consensus place the monument within the Early Medieval period, though precise dating remains subject to ongoing archaeological investigation.

Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE173. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court?

Wat's Dyke is a linear earthwork of Early Medieval date that forms part of the wider defensive system traditionally attributed to Wat, an eighth-century ruler of Mercia. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE173.

What period does Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court date from?

Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court 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: Sections N & S of the Court?

Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court 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 DE173.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wat's Dyke: Sections N & S of the Court?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park (5.3 km), Offa's Dyke: Y Gardden Camp Section (5.4 km), Eyton Old Hall Moat (5.7 km).

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