Monument Type(s):

• BOUNDARY BANK (Early Saxon to Mid Saxon - 410 AD to 800 AD)
• DYKE (DEFENCE) (Early Saxon to Mid Saxon - 410 AD to 800 AD)
• FRONTIER DEFENCE (Early Saxon to Mid Saxon - 410 AD to 800 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: Offa's Dyke is believed to have been built towards the end of the 8th century, by the King of Saxon Mercia, Offa, to mark the boundary between his kingdom and the Welsh kingdoms. Consisting for most of its length of a bank up to 3.5m high with a ditch on the western side, it is the longest linear earthwork in Britain, running for about 220km from North Wales to the Severn estuary through what is now Wales and the Marches. See also child records.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA5869 - 2004 WB on extension footings at Craig Forda, Oswestry by CPAT
• ESA6373 - 2009 WB on Offa's Dyke by SCAS
• ESA6384 - 2003 WB on Offa's Dyke at Orseddwen by CPAT
• ESA6492 - 1994 Salvage recording of section of Offa's dyke, Spoad Hill, nr Clun by SCCAS
• ESA6524 - 2008 WB along Offa’s Dyke Path at Churchtown Wood, Middle Knuck, Nut Wood, and Rownal by SCCAS
• ESA6588 - 2011 WB on Offa's Dyke, nr Newcastle on Clun by SCAS
• ESA6595 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Llanfair Waterdine, Kinsley Wood by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 80)
• ESA6596 - 1993 Excavation of Offa's Dyke, River Unk, Mainstone by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 98)
• ESA6597 - 1987? Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Nuttwood, Edenhope by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 128)
• ESA6598 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Kerry Ridgeway, Castlewright by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 56)
• ESA6599 - 1984 field observation during road scheme crossing Offa's Dyke, The Blue Bell, Brompton and Rhiston by SCC Highways (Ref: Site 111)
• ESA6600 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Brompton Hall Paddock, Brompton and Rhiston by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 133)
• ESA6601 - Geophysical survey and excavation of Offa's Dyke, Barker's Fort, Chirbury by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 110)
• ESA6602 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, south and north of the River Camlad by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 117)
• ESA6603 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Porth y waen, Oswestry by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 22)
• ESA6604 - 1922 Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Baker's Hill, Oswestry by Oswestry Prehistoric Society (Ref: Site 69)
• ESA6605 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Carreg-y-big, Selattyn by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 74)
• ESA6606 - 1976? Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Orseddwyn, Selattyn by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 29)
• ESA6607 - 1979? Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Woodside, Selattyn by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 63)
• ESA6608 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Dudston Covert by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 156)
• ESA6609 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Chirbury south by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 155)
• ESA6610 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Chirbury north by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 154)
• ESA6611 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Chirbury Road by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 153)
• ESA6612 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Rownal Covert by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 55)
• ESA6613 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Rownal Covert by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 152)
• ESA6614 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Calves Ground by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 151)
• ESA6615 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Chirbury, Rownal Paddock by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 150)
• ESA6667 - 2010 WB on Offa's Dyke by SCAS
• ESA6674 - 2011 evaluation at Lazy Acre, Treflach, Shropshire by Archaeology Wales
• ESA6675 - 2011 watching brief at Lazy Acre, Treflach, by Archaeology Wales
• ESA6697 - 2011 WB along Offa's Dyke at Churchtown, Edenhope Hill and Selley Hall by SCAS
• ESA952 - 1990-1991 excavations along the route of widening of the A489 at Brompton by BUFAU
• ESA953 - 1989 evaluation of A489 road widening at Brompton/Pentrehyling by BUFAU and CMARG
• ESA954 - 1980 recording of section of Offa's Dyke at Spring Hill Farm, Newcastle-on-Clun by Shropshire County Council SMR
• ESA955 - 1979 watching brief on Offa's Dyke at Woodside, Craignant by Shropshire County Council SMR
• ESA956 - 1978 watching brief and earthwork survey on Offa's Dyke at River Unk Crossing by Shropshire County Council
• ESA957 - 1977 field observation of Offa's Dyke in advance of forestry works, Pen-y-Bryn by Shropshire County Council
• ESA958 - 1993 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA6918 - 2012-3 WB on Offa's Dyke, Lymore Park, Montgomery by SCAS
• ESA6944 - 2013 WB on the installation of new path furniture at Hergan, Clun, along Offa's Dyke path by SCAS
• ESA6518 - 2001 excavation at The Royal Oak Inn, Treflach, Shropshire by SCCAS
• ESA6166 - 2002 Stage 2 DBA and walkover survey of Pant - Llanymynech bypass, by ULAS
• ESA4861 - 1998 condition survey and management plan for Llynclys Hill Nature Reserve by Malcolm L Reid
• ESA7167 - 2014 DBA at land adjoining the Royal Oak Inn, Treflach, Oswestry by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA7462 - 2015 Evaluation to the rear of The Royal Oak Inn, Treflach, Oswestry by Castlering Archaeology (Ref: 14/1300/OUT)
• ESA7499 - 2015 WB on the installation of new path furniture at Offa's Dyke, Bryndrinog by SCAS
• ESA7619 - 2015 DBA and walkover survey at Pen-y-Bryn Farm, Bron-y-Garth, Weston Rhyn by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA7856 - 2016 WB on installation of new footpath furniture on Offa's Dyke Path at Craignant by SCAS
• ESA7857 - 2016 WB on installation of new footpath furniture on Offa's Dyke Path at Little Brompton by SCAS
• ESA8485 - Excavation of Offa's Dyke, Lower Gwarthlow by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 157)
• ESA8521 - 1994-1997 Morda Valley Research Project by Oswestry & Border History & Archaeology Group (OBHAG)
• ESA2573 - 1986 survey of Offa's Dyke and field system at Dudston Fields by the RCHME
• ESA8871 - 2019 WB on new footpath furniture on Offa's Dyke at Bryndrinog by SCAS
• ESA9450 - 2020 WB on land at Bryndrinog Cottage, Newcastle on Clun by Castlering Archaeology (Ref: 20/03749/FUL)
• ESA9482 - 2021 WB on footpath furniture improvements, Offa's Dyke Path, Churchtown by SCAS
• ESA9483 - 2021 WB on footpath furniture improvements, Offa's Dyke Path, Hergan by SCAS
• ESA10316 - 2023 photographic record and WB on Offa's Dyke, Llanfair Hill by CPAT
• ESA10517 - 2024 WB on footpath improvements to Offa's Dyke, Knuck Bank, Mainstone by Aeon Archaeology

Description

THIS IS THE OVERALL RECORD FOR OFFA'S DYKE. IT IS USED TO PROVIDE LINKS TO GENERAL SOURCES FOR THE DYKE, AS WELL AS REFERENCES TO THOSE PARTS OF THE DYKE THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY CHILD RECORDS. ALL SEPARATELY SCHEDULED SECTIONS OF THE DYKE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SEPARATE PRNS - SEE CHILD RECORDS.

Detailed archaeological investigation of Offa's Dyke by Sir Cyril Fox where it crosses Shropshire between Weston Rhyn - Llanymynech Hill, 1928; Camlad stream (Chirbury parish) - Brompton Bridge (Brompton with Rhiston parish now Chirbury with Brompton), 1929; Nut Wood (Mainstone parish) - Kinsley Wood (Stowe parish), 1930. Figs, Plates, Sections. <0a>

Typescript reports on David Hill's work on Offa's Dyke from 1972-1976 and 1977-1978 mention the following (from south to north):- Site 56 Castlewright, SO258896-gateway found to be later opening [ESA6598]; Site 41-Brompton Hall SO249936-intersection of the Dyke with a Roman Marching camp excavated [ESA6600]; Site 55-Rownal Covert, SO234979-gateway found to be later opening [ESA6612]; Site 22-Porth y Waen-SJ271239-Dyke sectioned, bank found to be minor drystone structure, ditch 9m wide, 3m deep [ESA6603]; Site 29-Orseddwen-SJ251339-gateway found to be a later opening [ESA6606]. <1><2>

A report on the progress of the records of the Offa's Dyke Extra Mural Project led by David Hill listed (in 1988) eleven other Sites where it is presumed some form of excavation has taken place. These are, from South to North,-Site 80 Kinsley Wood, Llanfair Waterdine [ESA6595]; 98-River Unk, Mainstone [ESA6596]; 128-Nut Wood N & S, Edenhope [ESA6597]; 111-Blue Bell, Brompton [ESA6599]; 133-Brompton Hall Roadside [ESA6600]; 110-Barker's Fort, Chirbury [ESA6601]; 117-River Camlad [ESA6602]; 69-Baker's Hill, Oswestry [ESA6604]; 74-Carreg y Big, Selattyn [ESA6605]; 63, Woodside [ESA6607]; 33-Plas Offa, Chirk [out of county]. <3>

A watching brief was undertaken in 1978 during lowering of gradient on a farm track crossing the dyke at The River Unk Crossing, Edenhope Farm (SO 2618 8885). This length of the dyke lies on the lower part of the N slope of the Unk Valley, immediately above the flood plain. The course of the dyke is uncertain here. The dyke is difficult to follow in the wood N of the terraced track and has been obscured, probably by flooding, in the valley bottom S of the River. It’s probable course is indicated by Fox, but there are also slight traces of an irregular bank running NE across the stream from the dyke line - no clear trace in eroded river bank. The dyke ditch can be traced between the wood and the bank - largely filled in by the track to Upper Edenhope, but visible in the scrubby slope to the S as a broad hollow running diagonally across the slope and with a counterscarp bank c.1m wide and 0.25m high on the W side. Its fill was exposed during the lowering of the track by bulldozer -humic clay soil on S and yellow subsoil on the N. The dyke probably continued down the slope, approx. on the line of the present break of slope. Irregularities in the slope indicate that the dyke has slumped down as a result of river action and only the tail of the bank was visible during the group disturbance, as deeper yellow clay soil and hummus. A sketch survey was undertaken of this area. <4>

A site visit was carried out in 1979 to record a cutting through Offa's Dyke to the S of Woodside, Craignant (SJ 2511 3462), in association with a house extension and the construction of a garage. The dyke along this section appeared to have a capping of redeposited clay, approximately 1.75m thick. This was subsequently reported to Dr. David Hill who subsequently visited the site and carried out further excavation and recording [see ESA6607; <75>, p77, Site 63]. He reported that in addition to the sections S of Woodside, a longitudinal section was exposed during the digging of a cesspit on the N (downhill) side of the house. This was also recorded by the Offa's Dyke Group. <5>

A section across Offa's dyke was recorded at Spring Hill Farm (SO 2546 8082), in 1980, after it had been exposed as a result of "cutting down" an existing roadway to improve tractor access. <6>

Visit to a section of the dyke at Pen-y-Bryn (SJ 2641 3753) in 1977 ahead of tree planting, which Fox had identified (<0a>, p.57). Field visit confirmed survival, running down c.40m from the road to the river. The part beside the road was obscured, but recorded lower down the slope as a spread bank c.0.30m high, apparently without a ditch to the W or E. <7>

In 1989 D Hill excavated a trench across a section of Offa's Dyke threatened by road widening near the Blue Bell Crossroads, Brompton [c. SO 2504 9327]. This did not examine the ditch. <8>

In November 1990 BUFAU excavated next to D Hill's section (see <8>) at Blue Bell Crossroads, Brompton [c.SO 2504 9327]. They demonstrated that C17 and C18 sand quarrying had destroyed all trace of the Offa's Dyke ditch and also the original eastern face of the bank. The surviving bank was also damaged. Examination of the cartographical evidence showed that the Dyke was probably originally roughly levelled in the C17 when Brompton Hall was built. <9>

Built on the orders of Offa, King of Mercia (AD757-796), to mark the western boundary of his kingdom with Wales. Originally planned to extend from the Bristol Channel to the Irish Sea. It consists of a bank of earth, ditched usually on the west side, but occasionally on both sides. <10>

Ground photographs. <12>-<19>

Ground photographs. <32>-<39>

In February 1993 two areas of damage to scheduled section SAM 80 were reported to English Heritage by M D Watson [NGRs SO2541 8067; SO2546 8085]. <40>

In November 1993 emergency repairs were carried out at section SAM 80 [no NGR given]. This involved the filling in of a number of badger holes. A sketch plan was drawn and a photographic record made. This action did not, however, resolve the long term problem of what to do about the large and well established badger sett there. It was concluded that a survey to establish the pattern of below ground tunnels would be useful. J Leigh FMW FI Nov 1993. <41>

Evaluated for MPP, Less than 10 Frontier Works. <44>

Photographed from the air by Chris Musson, 2001-2003. <45>-<48>

It has been argued that the western defences of Llanymynech hillfort formed a link in Offa's Dyke. <49>

During the installation of new path furniture in 2009, at seven sites along the Offa's Dyke Path in northwest and southwest Shropshire, no significant archaeological features or deposits were located in the excavations. These locations lay within sections of the dyke which have been scheduled as ancient monuments as defined by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Tai’n-y-mynydd SJ 259 362 [PRN 33561]; Plas-crogen SJ 253 357 [PRN 33561]; Upper Craignant SJ 252 353 [PRN 33561]; Orseddwen SJ 251 335 [PRN 33574]; Hergan SO 261 854 [PRN 08372]; Bryndrinog SO 256 826 [PRN 08374]; and Selley Hall SO 266 766 [PRN 08380].<51>

In 2003 a photographic survey was undertaken before, during and after the installation of new path furniture, a retaining wall and a foot bridge along the Offa's Dyke Path, south of Orseddwen at SJ251335. At this location, the rampart of Offa’s Dyke is generally well preserved, serving as a modern field boundary. Before the works were carried out it was noted that where the path migrates onto the dyke bank, it was associated with some erosion, exacerbated by tree roots/shading, and the gradient either side of the stream. On the eastern flank of the rampart evidence of prior disturbance associated with old field boundary/fencing arrangements was apparent. Disturbance associated with the stile on top of the bank was noted in the form of localised erosion pinch-points at the step off areas, exacerbated by stock rubbing against the stile. <52>

At SO25478085 the ditch was seen to survive to a depth of 0.8m below the present ground surface. The ditch was seen to be rock cut, and three distinct fills were observed. The earliest (1304) was seen to consist of a very dark grey sandy silt; the upper two (1303 and 1302) consisting of dark brown sandy silts with rock fragments. These fills were sealed by a layer of humic topsoil 0.35m deep (1301). ->

-> 1020897 (32597) A new fingered waymark post was sited on the western side of the bank where the path crossed a fenceline. The hole for this post again 0.8m deep with a diameter of 0.4m, and was cut through a homogenous deposit over 0.8m deep of dark brown humic loam. No significant archaeological features or deposits were seen in the excavation. ->

-> 1020896 (32596) A new fingered waymark post and a pegged retaining board across the path to prevent down slope erosion from rainwater were installed on the western side of the projected line of the ditch on a steep slope down towards the hamlet of Churchtown. A single hole was excavated for the fingerpost 0.8m deep by 0.3m in diameter. Three holes were dug for the pegged board placed across the path. These were each 0.5m deep by 0.25m wide. The holes cut through a topsoil consisting of a dark greyish brown humic loam 0.2m deep which lay over the natural buff sandy clay with small stone fragments. No significant archaeological features or deposits were seen in the excavation. ->

-> 1004777 (Salop 76) A stile on a fenceline across the path was removed and replaced at a point 7m to the east, and a fingered waymark post installed adjacent to the stile. The new stile was located on the eastern edge of the projected line of the dyke’s bank. The two main postholes for the new stile were cut 0.85m deep by 0.4m diameter. The postholes were cut through a thin layer of clay loam topsoil 0.05m thick disturbed by recent forestry, which lay over a natural subsoil of light grey to buff sandy clay. The hole for the fingerpost was cut 0.8m deep by 0.3m in diameter. A number of fence posts were also replaced to the east of the new stile.->

-> 1003013 (Salop 84) Replacement of a wooden gate and gate posts on the site of an existing breach through the dyke. The gateway lay on the western edge of the line of the infilled ditch. Two postholes were excavated for the new gate 0.8m deep by 0.6m diameter, being cut through a brown loamy topsoil. No significant archaeological features or deposits were seen in the excavations at any of the four sites. <53>

In 2011 a watching brief was carried out on the installation of new path furniture at five sites along the Offa’s Dyke Path on Graig Hill, Newcastle-on-Clun, in southwest Shropshire. At two of the sites - Graig Hill B (ODP11 GHB; SO 2557 8339) and Graig Hill D (ODP11 GHD; SO 2559 8292) new post-holes were located on the bank element of the Dyke, represented by a layer of redeposited natural. At Graig Hill E (ODP11 GHE; SO 2559 8271) a brown sandy silty clay with pebbles may have represented bank material. <54>

Detailed mile-by-mile description and analysis of Offa's Dyke, against the background of the political and social context of the Kingdom of Mercia. Includes brief details of a number of excavations undertaken by the authors [ESA 6595 to ESA 6615 and ESA 8485], which have been linked to child records as appropriate. <55>

In 2010 a watching brief on the installation of new path furniture at a number of sites along the Offa’s Dyke Path found in two of the locations - Middle Knuck B (ODP10 MK–B; SO 2615 8679) and Middle Knuck C (ODP10 MK-C; SO 2614 8678) - the new footpath furniture was located on the line of the ditch component of the Dyke, and in both of these locations relatively shallow fills were recorded above the natural bedrock at the base of the ditch. The natural bedrock was encountered at about 0.5m below the ground surface, and the ditch fill was between 0.2m and 0.3m in thickness. Otherwise, no significant archaeological deposits were located in the excavations for the new furniture (located SO 2602 8926; SO 2602 8915; SO 2666 7660; SO 2675 7639; SO 2679 7629; SO 2620 8695; and SO 2607 8630). <56>

A programme of archaeological works was carried out at Lazy Acre, Treflach, consisting of trial trenches and a watching brief on subsequent development (ESA 6674 and ESA 6675). This recorded that the area had been extensively terraced c.25 years ago. No part of the Offa’s Dyke bank appears to survive east of the Lazy Acre and adjoining plot property boundary. <58>

In 2011 a watching brief on the installation of new path furniture at a number of sites along the Offa’s Dyke Path found in two of the locations - Edenhope Hill B (ODP11 EH–B; SO 2627 8827) and Selley Hall B (ODP11 SH-B; SO 2657 7675) - the new footpath furniture was located on the line of the ditch and bank components of the Dyke. At Selley Hall B deposits associated with the bank element of the dyke were recorded as layer of sandy loam up to 0.3m thick, overlain by a similar stone-free deposit up to 0.35m thick, overlaying the natural geology. At Edenhope Hill B, the slight hollow of the dyke's ditch was recorded, filled with a humic loam deposit up to 0.75m deep. Otherwise, no significant archaeological deposits were located in the excavations for the new furniture (located SO 2634 8726; SO 2663 7660 and SO 2642 7699). <59>

The impact on parts of Offa's Dyke was assessed as part of an assessment of the proposed route of the A483 Pant/Llanymynech Bypass in 2002. Sections of the dyke are recorded west and north-west of Llynclys and to the south at Four Crosses, on the Welsh side of the border. The location of the dyke between these two sections remains unknown. A projected line from north to south would place the dyke close to the southernmost section of the proposed route, where the routes leave the A483, south of Llanymynech (M Walters, CPAT, pers. comm.). No earthwork remains were visible within the study areas during a walkover survey. <60>

In 2012-2013 a watching brief on the installation of new path furniture at a number of sites along the Offa’s Dyke Path recorded possible bank deposits in two of the locations - Lymore B (ODP12 L–B; SO 2399 9631) and Lymore C (ODP12 L-C; SO 2396 9635). At both locations, new postholes were cut into the tail of the earthwork bank component of the Dyke, and were cut into a deposit of sandy silty clay, probably representing clean natural soil upcast from the cutting of the Dyke's ditch. Otherwise, no significant archaeological deposits were located in the excavations for the new furniture (located SO 2378 9677). <61>

In April 2013, a watching brief on the installation of new path furniture at a site along the Offa’s Dyke Path at Hergan, Clun, in southwest Shropshire (ODP13 H; SO 2613 8546) recorded no significant archaeological features or deposits. <62>

The scheduled section of Offa's Dyke on Llynclys Hill was visited during a management survey of Llynclys Hill nature reserve, undertaken in 1998. This section of the dyke (Scheduled, see NHLE 1003014) is 520m long. At the south it joins a prominent limestone cliff. From the cliff it runs in a SW-NE direction along the crest of the steep western side of the hill. It then cuts across the contours as it descends the steep slope of the hill until it reaches the base of the valley. This rather sinuous stretch of the Dyke consists of a principal rampart, bounded on the eastern side by a quarry ditch and one the western side by a terrace cum ditch created by cutting into the slope. A discontinuous counterscarp bank exists downslope from this terrace/ditch. In a few places along the eastern side of the quarry ditch, the rock cut side of the ditch can be seen. ->

-> A brief condition survey was carried out and remedial works recommended. Photographed in April 1998. <63>

Various sections of the dyke were photographed during aerial photographic survey between 2008 and 2010. <64>-<95>

An evaluation was carried out in 2001 at The Royal Oak Inn, Treflach of a proposed residential development centred on SJ 2591 2551. The development site lay over the course of Offa's Dyke, between two sections of upstanding earthworks. Trial trenching located both the in-filled ditch and the truncated remains of the bank of the Dyke. The evaluation determined that the present ground level had been raised considerably here, and that the proposed development was unlikely to affect the ditch or the buried portion of the bank components of the Dyke. <96>

A programme of desk-based assessment and a site visit was undertaken of land adjoining the Royal Oak Inn, Treflach, in 2014 (SJ 2591 2551) in association with proposals for residential development. The site's proximity to the scheduled section of upstanding earthwork remains of Offa's Dyke to the immediate S and N (PRN 01000) was noted. No above ground remains were noted on the site during a walkover survey but given the potential, further archaeological evaluation was recommended. <97>

Following on from the desk-based assessment to the rear of the Royal Oak inn, Treflach (<117>), an archaeological evaluation was undertaken as a condition of planning consent for residential development. In archaeological terms the evaluation was disappointing. The evaluation showed that the last use of the site as a paddock had resulted in the uneven ground surface on site today. The use as a caravan and camping site in the 1979 to 2001 period is likely to have caused the disturbance and levelling seen in Trench 2 towards the north side of the paddock, while the deposition of modern waste has greatly disturbed the site of Trench 1 and the southeast corner of the site. No archaeological features were recorded. <98>

Various sections of the dyke were photographed by the air by Chris Musson in 1999. <99>-<104>

A watching brief was undertaken on the excavation of 5 postholes for new path furniture on Offa's Dyke at Bryndrinog, Newcastle-on-Clun in 2015 (centred SO 2560 8260). No archaeological features or deposits were encountered. <105>

The mapped extent of the dyke was extended to the south, to the west of Blodwell Rock hillfort (PRN 01439) and Llanymynech hillfort (PRN 01117), the ramparts of which incorporate the dyke. The route is speculative in this area. In an area centred on SJ 268 233, to the north of Blodwell Rock, a bank is potentially visible on LiDAR imagery and was previously identified by the Marches Upland Mapping Project as an earthwork in this area (MU.476.3). See PRN 08409 for the stretch of postulated dank incorporating the western ramparts of Llanymynech hillfort. <106><107><108>

A discussion of the line of the dyke in and around Pen-y-Bryn Farm (SJ 263 373) was included in a 2015 assessment of the site of a proposed new steel-framed building. The farm itself lies on the Wales/England border, which here follows the course of the dyke. A walkover survey here suggested that the farm building itself lay on the line of the dyke, together with a 1970s cowshed to the immediate SW. The walkover survey postulated a small area of earthwork to the immediate NE of the farm building (PRN 31970). The dyke in this location was not considered likely to be directly impacted by the construction of the farm building, although a watching brief during groundworks was recommended. <109>

During 2016, improvements were made to footpath furniture on two sections of the Offa's Dyke National Trail at Craignant, near Oswestry and at Little Brompton, near Chirbury. A watching brief during excavations at Craignant (centred on SJ 2524 3532) recorded no significant archaeological finds or deposits. A watching brief at Little Brompton (centred on SO 2474 9415) recorded a greyish brown sandy silty loam with some gravel that formed part of the surviving fabric element of the dyke. This overlay a silty grey deposit which contained flecks of charcoal and flecks of burnt clay. A sample was taken from this deposit, but its integrity could not be guaranteed so it was not processed for analysis. No other significant archaeological features or deposits were encountered. <110>

Summary article by David Hill on aspects of recent work on Offa's and Wat's Dyke, 1972-1976, including brief accounts of some sites excavated by the Offa's Dyke Project - Site 32, Dalford (SJ 307 352) [ESA8485] and Site 29, Orseddwen (SJ 251 339) [ESA6606]. Also some discussions of possible 'gateways'. <111>

Notes prepared by a member of OBHAG who walked a section of the dyke between Craig Forda (SJ 253 293) and Treflach (SJ 259 255), as part of the Morda Valley Research Project. This includes notes on the condition and survival of the dyke over a distance of c.4km. <112>

Historic England Archive holds a 'linear archive file' for Offa's Dyke. Ordnance Survey Linear Archive File LINEAR 33 in NMRC <113>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.