Monument Type(s):

• CROSS DYKE (Early Bronze Age to Medieval - 2600 BC to 1540 AD) + Sci.Date

Summary

Scheduled Monument: One of several good examples in the area of a type of linear earthwork, found running across upland ridges and spurs, which is believed to represent the remains of territorial boundaries, landuse divisions and/or fortifications of mid-late Bronze Age origin (often re-used in later periods), this one straddles the modern Welsh border.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1628 - 1966 field observation by English Heritage
• ESA8494 - 1986 Excavation on The Upper Short Ditch, South by D Hill and M Worthington (Ref: Site 89)
• ESA8495 - 1986 Excavation on The Upper Short Ditch, Ivy House Pasture by D Hill and M Worthington (Ref: Site 100)

Description

A short dyke consisting of a bank, rising 8ft out of a ditch on its west side, with a 4ft counterscarp <3a>

The S end of the Upper Short Ditch has been ploughed out in the two upper enclosures for 300 yds <4>

Part in Powys. (PAW comment 1991) <8>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, as one of less than 10 Cross-Dykes <9>

Record of management issues and reccommendation made in c.1996. <10>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2010. <11>

Excavation on Upper Short Dyke carried out by the Offa's Dyke Project (Hill and Worthington) in 1986; noted but no further information available.
SHROPSHIRE: Bettws, Upper Short Ditch, South (Site 89) (SO 192867): The excavation showed that the main earthwork did not pass this point. However, an excavation found an earthwork at SHROPSHIRE: Bettws-y-Crwyn, Ivy House Pasture (Site 100) (SO 192864). <12>

No other sources have been identified for the excavation referred to in <12>. Site 100 would appear to relate to an area to the S of the Upper Short Ditch (based on a 6 figure NGR) so it is not clear what earthwork was encountered. <13>

Dated during CPAT's short dyke project through augering on the Welsh side (at SO194872). A sealed peaty soil at the Upper Short Ditch provided a date of cal. AD 540-660. <14>

[SO 1915 8675 - SO 1945 8725) Upper Short Ditch (OE) (1)

"This Dyche runs accross Kerry Hill parallel with Lower Short Dyche (Mont 44 NE 1) at a distance of two miles to the west. It is identical in character to that dyche, and was doubtless constructed at the same time and for the same purpose. A length of dyke and ditch on the lower ground of the Kerry Valley called 'The Grange Dyche' was connected with the Upper Short Syche. The grange in question was that of Gwernygoe, belonging to the abbey of Cumhir, Radnorshire. Visited 18th September 1909." (2)

A-B 300 yards ploughed out at south end. It is of the same date and character as SO 28 NW 3. (3)

Work continued on a series of short dykes in the Welsh Marches between 1981-85, as part of the Offa's and Wat's Dyke Project, as these were considered by Fox to be `Mercian' and associated with the two main frontier works.

The Upper Short Ditch: (Site 89 - SO 192 867). The excavation showed that the main earthwork did not pass this point.
However, an excavation found an earthwork at Ivy House Pasture (Site 100 - SO 192 864). (4)

SO 193 871-SO 192 867. Upper Short Ditch. Scheduled. (also in Powys) (5)

Upper Short Ditch was seen as earthworks on aerial photographs (NMR SO1986/1-2 10-SEP-1986) and mapped during the Marches Uplands Mapping Project. No further information was added. <15>

Sources

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