HER 502 DESCRIPTION:- Scheduled Monument Description - Section of Offa's Dyke between ST 54928 97594 and SO 54636 01197. Formerly known as SAM96. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 33476 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: S054640102 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of Offa's Dyke on Madgett Hill, 580m west of The Old Mill. The majority of this section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch, and a counterscarp bank on the western lip of the ditch. In this 365m long section the Dyke is visible as a bank with a stretch of ditch to the west and shallow quarry pits to the east. The bank runs north-south up the slope of Madgett Hill, before turning to the south west at the top of the slope to follow the crest of the hill, making use of the topography of the area. The bank is between 8m and lOm wide at its base and stands to a maximum height of lm. To the west of the bank, where it ascends the face of Madgett Hill, is a ditch which is no longer visible at ground level, having become infilled over time, but which survives as a buried feature about 4m wide. After the bank turns south west at the crest of the hill, the use of natural topography would have reduced the need for a ditch, and there is no evidence for the existence of one beyond this point. Quarry ditches are visible on the eastern and south eastern side of the bank along the entire length of the section, surviving to a maximum depth of lm and to a width of between 6m and 16m. All fence posts, footpath marker posts and stiles are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke on Madgett Hill, 580m west of The old mill, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument and, along with the section of ditch to the west and the quarries to the east, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the monument and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT N0: 33477 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: 5054540061 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of Offa's Dyke at Modesgate, 280m west of Beeches Farm. This section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry ditches to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch, and a counterscarp bank on the western lip of the ditch. In this section the Dyke is visible as a bank, with a berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to the west and quarry ditches to the east. The Dyke follows a sinuous course running north-south for 633m through Lippets Grove and making use of the natural slope to the west which enhances the appearance of the bank in this area. Throughout much of the section the Dyke consists of the bank, with the berm forming a deliberate, man-made break in the hillslope immediately to the west, and quarry pits to the east. For a short stretch in the centre of the section, however, there is a ditch and counterscarp bank to the west of the bank. The bank is about 14m wide at its base and stands to approximately 4.3m on its western face and 0.5m on its eastern face. The berm to the west is between lm and 2m wide. where it is present, the ditch is between 3m and lOm wide and 0.4m deep, while the counterscarp bank is 0.4m high. To the east of the bank are a series of contiguous quarry pits, from which material was excavated during the construction of the monument. They are up to lm deep and vary in width from 3m to lOm. The eastern side of the Dyke is abutted by a large lynchet at ordnance Survey NGR 5054560068, a sample of which has been included in the scheduling. The lynchet has been interpreted as a later (probably post-Offan) earthwork connected with the cultivation of the land to the east of the Dyke. A track has been cut through the monument at Ordnance Survey NGR 5054530074, which has destroyed the bank, although the ditch and quarries will survive as buried features beneath the trackway. The gap is not thought to indicate an original access point through the Dyke. All fence posts, stiles and signposts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Caswell wood, 280m west of Beeches Farm, survives well and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument, and along with the berm, ditch, counterscarp bank and quarries will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the monument and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT N0: 33478 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: 5054150030 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a section of Offa's Dyke, 680m WSW of Beeches Farm in Lippets Grove. This section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch, and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. In this section the Dyke turns from its usual alignment to run for some 748m east-west before turning to the south east. It is visible as a bank with a berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to the north and west and quarry pits to the south and east. The bank is about 12m wide at its base and stands to a maximum height of 5.1m on its north and west faces and 1.4m on its south and east faces. Where the eastern portion of the Dyke runs along the top of a steep slope, a berm, approximately 2m wide, abuts the north western face of the bank. Where the slope becomes less steep, there is a ditch, approximately 3m wide and up to 0.7m deep to the west of the bank, while to the west of the ditch is a counterscarp bank which stands to a height of 0.7m. A series of contiguous quarry pits lie to the south and east of the main bank along its entire length. These are up to 0.7m deep and between 3m and 7m wide. The Dyke follows the edge of the plateau to the end of the spur at Lippets Grove, making maximum use of the natural topography, which would have made the Dyke easily visible from the west bank of the River Wye. The quarries in this area also appear to have been reused after the construction of the Dyke, as many large, cut stones and loose rocks are visible within the quarry pits. There is a gap in the line of the Dyke at Ordnance Survey NGR 5054080011, which is believed to have been cut during the last 200 years. An excavation through this gap in 1986 revealed a deposit, which may have been the base of the bank. The western ditch, which had become infilled, was also identified. All fence posts and sign posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Lippets Grove, 680m WSW of Beeches Farm, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument, and along with the berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to the north and west, and the quarries to the east and south, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the monument and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 33479 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: ST54259978 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a section of Offa's Dyke in Passage Grove, 660m west of Sheepcot. This section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. In this 539m long section the Dyke is visible as a bank with a ditch and counterscarp bank to the west and quarry pits to the east. The main bank is between 14m and 16m wide at its base, and is up to 5.1m high on its western face and 1.4m on its eastern face. The ditch to the west of the bank is between 4m and 6m wide and is up to 0.7m deep, while the counterscarp bank rises to 0.7m. To the east of the main bank is a group of contiguous quarry pits which are up to 2.2m deep and between 5m and 8m wide. The line of the Dyke makes use of the natural topography of the area, running along the top of a steep scarp slope, which would have made the Dyke highly visible from the west bank of the River Wye. All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them are included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Passage Grove, 660m west of Sheepcot, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument and, along with the ditch and counterscarp bank and quarries, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the Dyke and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 33480 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: ST54289922 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a section of Offa's Dyke in Shorncliff Wood, 790m south west of Sheepcot. This section of the Dyke is in the care of Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. This 731m long section of the Dyke is visible as a bank with a berm taking the form of a deliberate, man-made break in slope to the west and a series of contiguous quarry pits to the east. At the northern end of the section is the area known as the Devil's Pulpit, formed by a pillar of rock thought to have been left following 19th century quarrying to the west of the Dyke, and which is included in the area of protection. The section of the Dyke immediately to the east of this pillar has since become a viewing point over Tintern Abbey and the River Wye. The bank of the Dyke in this section is up to 10m wide at its base, stands to between 2m and 4m high on its western face, and is up to 1.5m high on its eastern face. The berm to the west is up to 2m wide, while to the east of the bank is a series of contiguous quarry pits from which material was excavated during the construction of the monument, and which is up to 8m wide and between 0.7m and 1.8m deep. The monument closely follows the line of a steep scarp slope which develops into the Plumweir cliffs at the southern end of the section. All sign posts, marker posts, fence posts and the area of experimental path surfacing to the north of the Devil's Pulpit are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE This section of Offa’s Dyke in Shorncliff Wood, 790m south west of Sheepcot, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument, and along with the berm to the west and quarries to the east, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the monument and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 34851 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: ST54309866 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a section of Offa's Dyke, 800m west of Chase Farm. This section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of the State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch, and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. This 952m long section of the Dyke turns from its usual alignment to run north west-south east. It is visible as a bank with contiguous quarry pits to the north east, from which material was excavated during the construction of the monument. The bank is up to 13m wide at its base and stands to approximately 2m on its south west face and 1.5m on its north east face. The quarries to the north east vary in depth between 0.7m and 1.8m and are between 6m and 8m wide. There is a gap in the line of the monument at Ordnance Survey NGR ST 54579848 which provides access for forestry vehicles, and this is not thought to be an original crossing point through the monument. All fence posts, sign posts and marker posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Worgan's Wood, 800m west of Chase Farm, survives well. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument and, along with the quarries to the north east, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the Dyke and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 34852 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: ST54869849 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of Offa's Dyke in Boatwood Plantation, 320m south west of Chase Farm. This section of Offa's Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarries to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a beret between the bank and ditch and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. This 364m long section of the Dyke turns from its usual alignment to run north west-south east. It is visible as a bank with a beret on its south side and contiguous quarry pits to the north. The bank is up to 17m wide at its base and stands to between 2.5m and 3.5m high on its southern face and to between 0.8m and 1.8m on its northern face. The beret is about 2m wide and represents an artificial break in slope at the base of the earthen bank. The quarries are up to 10m wide and about 1m deep. A stone boundary wall, which is thought to date from the mid to late 19th century, runs along the top of the bank throughout the length of this scheduling. There is a gap in the Dyke at Ordnance Survey NGR ST54929845 formed by the cutting of a forestry access road, material from which was thrown up to form a bund. It is not thought to represent an original crossing point through the monument. The metalled surface of the forestry track, all fence posts, sign posts, marker posts, telegraph poles and the stone wall which runs along the top of the bank are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Boatwood Plantation, 320m south west of Chase Farm, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument and, along with the berm to the south and the quarries to the north, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the monument and the building materials used. NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 34853 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: ST54809802 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of a section of Offa's Dyke in Danehill wood, 300m west of East Vaga. This section of the Dyke is in the care of the Secretary of State. Offa's Dyke generally consists of a bank up to 3.5m high with an intermittent ditch to the west and quarry pits to the east. In places Offa's Dyke was strengthened by additional earthworks, namely a berm between the bank and ditch and a counterscarp bank on the lip of the ditch. In this 903m long section the Dyke is visible as a bank with a berm and short section of counterscarp bank to the west and contiguous quarry pits to the east. The bank is a maximum of 16m wide at its base, standing to 3.5m high on its western face and lm high on its eastern face. The berm marks a break in slope between the western face of the bank and the natural slope of the hill, and is up to 4m wide. Towards the southern end of the section a counterscarp bank approximately 0.4m high is visible. The quarry pits are between 6m and 8m wide and about lm deep. There is a drystone wall to the east of this scheduling, thought to have been built during the 19th century, which marks the line of an old boundary and which now revets part of the monument. A disused lime kiln which is included in the scheduling, stands at the northern end of the section, and is also thought to have been built during the 19th century. There is a gap in the monument at the northern end of the scheduling at Ordnance Survey NGR ST55069833, which allows access for vehicles to Tintern Quarry to the west of the Dyke. Although the bank has been levelled, evidence for the Dyke's quarries is visible to the east of the cut. The break is not thought to be the site of an original access point through the monument. To the south of this section, below Dennel Hill, the line of the Dyke has been destroyed by post-medieval quarrying. The stone boundary wall to the east of the bank, all fence posts, sign posts, marker posts and telegraph poles are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The section of Offa's Dyke in Danehill wood, 300m west of East Varga, survives well, and illustrates the use of natural topography to enhance the form and visibility of the Dyke. The bank will have preserved part of the original ground surface, predating the construction of the monument and, along with the beret, counterscarp and quarries, will contain environmental evidence in the form of organic remains which will relate both to the Dyke and to the landscape within which it was constructed. The bank will also contain evidence relating to the methods of construction of the Dyke and the building materials used. {Source work 2873.} 1877 - Playne recorded the monument as a mound of stones and earth thrown up on the edge of the escarpment with a wide east ditch and with a slight ditch to west {Source Work 2490.} c. 1880-c.1925 The monument in this area is recorded as a bank and terrace with a western ditch, counterscarp or berm on 1st, 2nd and 3rd County Series OS maps {Source Works 5134, 5136 , 5138.} 1893-94 - Maclean described the monument throughout this area in his survey of the course of Offa's Dyke, {Source work 1604.} 1931 - This section of the monument was recorded by Fox during his survey of the Dyke. He considered parts of this section, particularly the northern section in the area of Madgetts Hill, as the most perfect stretches of the monument in the county. {Source Work 102.} 1965 - An existing breach through the monument, at SO5402000160 was widened and deepened by the Forestry Commission. This operation was observed by John Rhodes for Gloucester City Museum, who made a record of the section though the bank, counterscarp and apparently very shallow ditch. Copies of his records are in plan drawer at Gloucester City Museum and one copy was sent to David Hill in Manchester. {Source Works 862 , 6817.} 1983 - Noble also describes the monument throughout this area. {Source Work 2424.}. 1985 - In 1985 a watching brief was undertaken by Jan Wills of Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service on the excavation of a narrow trench cut by the South Wales Electricity Board through an existing gap in the monument at SO54154 00032. Although no visible earthwork survived at this point, a 0.4m thick deposit, probably representing the base of the bank (red-brown clay with limestone fragments) was recorded, and the base of the infilled ditch (0.3m of red brown clay with lenses of charcoal) was clearly visible on the western side of the monument. {Source Works 735 & 2515.} 1991 - This section of the monument was in Forestry Commission compartments 49a 49b 49c 51b 51c 51d 52a 52b 52c 52f 55a 56a 56b 56c 56d 58a 58c 58d 58e 59b 59c in 1991. {Source Work 2610.} 1994 - The site was visited by J Erskine of Gloucestershire County Archaeology Service on 03/03/1994 to discuss alternative routes for the Offa's Dyke Long Distance Path. {Source Work 484). 1995 - The Offa's Dyke Management Survey made detailed records of this section of the monument. These records can be found as HER 16345, 16346, 16348, 16349, 16352, 16354, 16355, 16356, 16358, 16362, 16365 and 16368. At that time the monument throughout this section consisted of a high bank or terrace constructed into the scope of the hill. To the west of this features such as a ditch, counterscarp of berm were intermittently visible, and irregular Offan quarry pits were a feature of the eastern side of the monument here consisted of. The form of the monument changed abruptly where it left the high ground at the edge of the Wye Valley to cross the Bigsweir valley (see HER 16368). {Source Works 2206, 6650.} 2000 - A management plan was undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service on the monument. The most serious management issues were identified as woodland cover on the monument, visitor erosion mostly due to the Offa's Dyke Path and wildlife erosion from badger activity. {Source Work 5771.} 2000 - Alternative Action Report for the Modesgate Earthworks. "Madgetts Earthworks: Immediately to the east of the line of the Dyke at SO ******** is a site known locally as Modesgate, which consists of a series of lynchets, linear and rectilinear cropmarks and old field boundaries. The largest of the lynchets abuts the dyke at SO ******** and runs north-east at right angles from the course of the dyke. This, in combination with the visible features on the site led some earlier authorities to postulate that Madgetts was the site of a Roman or other pre-Offan earthwork which was incorporated into the line of the monument. However, more recent work in the area (ODMS 1995) has shown that the lynchets respect and post-date the monument, and there is therefore no evidence to suggest that the Madgetts earthworks pre-date the construction of the Dyke. The name Modiete is first recorded in Domesday Book of 1086 and contains the element ‘gate’ which may indicate the site of an early access point through the monument, which may be connected to the settlement suggested by the Modesgate earthworks. The location of the access point through the monument in this area is, however, unknown." {Source Work 17509.} 2000 - Scheduling review "365m long section of bank, with ditch to the west and quarries to the east on Madgett Hill, 625m west of The Old Mill. NGR: SO 54640119... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the scheduling should be amended to cover the full extent of the monument, including the stretch of ditch to the west and the quarry pits to the east and south of the bank which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence essential to a full understanding of the monument." "633m long section of bank with berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to west and quarries to east at Modesgate, 270m north west of Beeches Farm. NGR: SO 54550065... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that protection should be extended to cover the full extent of the monument, including the berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to the west of the bank and the quarry pits to the east which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence integral to a full understanding of the monument." "748m long section of bank, with berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to west and quarries to the east, in Lippets Grove, 800m south west of Beeches Farm. NGR: SO 54150031... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the area of protection should be extended to include the berm, ditch and counterscarp bank to the north and west and the quarry pits to the south and east which will contain archaeological evidence and environmental material vital to a full understanding of the monument." "539m long section of bank with ditch and counterscarp bank to the west and quarries to the east, in Passage Grove, 750m north west of Sheepcot Farm. NGR: ST 54259979... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the scheduling should be extended to include the ditch and counterscarp bank to the west of the main bank, and the quarry pits to the east, which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence vital to a full understanding of the monument." "731m long section of bank, western berm and eastern quarries, including the Devil’s Pulpit, in Shorncliff Wood 850m south west of Sheepcot Farm NGR: ST 54319928... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the area of protection should be extended to include the berm to the west of the bank and the area of quarries to the east, which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence integral to a full understanding of the monument." "952m long section of bank and eastern quarries in Worgan’s Wood, 751m west of Chase Farm NGR: ST 54409857... ... Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the scheduling should be extended to include the quarries to the north east of the bank which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence integral to a full understanding of the monument." "364m long section of bank, western berm and eastern quarries in Boatwood Plantation, 568m south west of Chase Farm NGR: ST 55009842... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the scheduling should be extended to include the berm to the south west and the quarries to the north east of the bank which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence integral to a full understanding of the monument." "903m long section of bank, berm and eastern quarries in Dennelhill Wood, 300m west of East Vaga House NGR: ST 54819800... ...Reason For Amendment To Scheduled Area: The monument has been reviewed and it is now considered that the scheduling should be extended to include the berm and counterscarp bank to the west of the bank and the quarries to the east, which will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence integral to a full understanding of the monument." {Source Work 17511.} 2002 - Burnt limestone was observed by Jon Hoyle of Gloucestershire County Council and Peter Bond of Brockweir in the upcast of a badger sets at c. ST5421899890 when the site was visited in May 2002. {Pers Comm Hoyle J.} The limits of Offa's Dyke as digitised on the Cogis layer SMRcnty are not always precisely the same as the limits of the scheduled area, which are more schematic. {Pers. Comm. Hoyle J.} Application by Forestry Commission to extract timber from the east side of the dyke in Lippets Grove and the wood noted on SMR Amendment form checked by TG 18/12/2002. 2003 - This area was mapped at 1:10,000 scale as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project. A fairly continuous stretch of Offa's Dyke, the Early Medieval earthwork, runs for 1885 m along the top of a steep slope overlooking the River Wye near Brockweir. Most of the earthwork is covered by trees within Caswell Wood, but its course can be seen clearly on aerial photographs. {Source Works 4249, 7549, 6880, 7530.} 2006 - The Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service 2000 management plan was revised this year. The most serious management issues were seen to be the same as in the original plan {Source Work 8654}. 2006 - Located during the 2006 Forest of Dean LIDAR Survey. {Source Work 9630.} 2007 - A photographic condition survey was carried out on a section of Offa's Dyke at Devil's Pulpit, in Tidenham. It identified acute visitor erosion along the Dyke path and Devil's Pulpit viewpoint. The survey was carried out in advance of a proposal to resurface the Offa's Dyke path and the Devil's Pulpit viewpoint in this area to protect them from further visitor erosion. {Source Work 9111}. 2009 - Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems in all areas of the earthwork with this SMR number. {Source Work 9917.} 2011 - This site is included in a thesis on Medieval Dykes when looking at Offa's Dyke in the Wye Valley:- There are two sections main sections of bank commonly called Offa’s Dyke on the east bank of the River Wye in Gloucestershire, a shorter stretch centred on English Bicknor, a longer section downstream centred on St Briavel’s Common extending north from Newland parish to Tidenham. This study refers to these two parts as the English Bicknor earthwork and the southern earthwork. Most parts are quite close to the east bank of the river, usually on top of the cliffs on the eastern side though across St Briavel’s Common the earthwork runs across flatter land up to a kilometre from the river. Note that another earthwork in Gloucestershire also in Tidenham parish commonly called Offa’s Dyke at the mouth of the River Wye, Beachley Bank, has a separate entry. With no conclusive dating evidence the earthworks along the Wye valley in Gloucestershire are possible early medieval dykes (though the builders of the earthwork might have reused or refurbished the Iron Age ramparts at Symonds Yat and Lancaut no dimension are given as this is speculative). Name:- Hill implied it was the publication of Fox’s work that lead to the attachment of Offa’s name to these earthworks (Hill and Worthington 2003 146-48). However, earthworks along the River Wye are clearly marked as Offa’s Dyke on nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps, called Offa’s Dyke by Omerod in 1842 and a 1321 document names an earthwork near St Briavel’s as Offedich (Ormerod 1842 14-15; Herbert 1996 249). Evidence:- Along the east bank of the River Wye there are undoubtedly earthworks, but it is very difficult to distinguish it from evidence of quarrying, lynchets, hollow ways, field boundaries and Iron Age features. Fox, Hill, the Ordnance Survey, the NMR and the Gloucestershire SMR all dismiss or include sections the others do not. It was usually assumed gaps in the earthwork existed as the builders utilised cliffs as well as older earthworks to save on labour (Stanford 1980 197). Though Bapty notes recent lidar data fills many of the gaps along the River Wye, but just because a feature links two earthworks it is not proof they are all contemporary and not, say, a field boundary or track (Bapty 2007 24). Though both Malim and Hill accept there is an earthwork running along the east bank of the River Wye, neither think it part of Offa’s Dyke noting how it is much smaller (Hill 2000 198-200; Hill and Worthington 2003 45 and 143-47; Malim 2007 25). Not only are the earthworks by the Wye often set back from the crests of slopes it would be odd if the Mercians built a dyke in Gloucestershire where steep cliffs line the banks of the river when they did not bother in Herefordshire where the valley is much easier to cross (Hill and Worthington 2003 147). For Fox, Offa set back the earthwork from the Wye because, as an agreed frontier, he allowed Welsh boatmen access to the river and the earthwork marked the edge between cultivated Mercian land to the east and forest and moor to the west (Fox 1955 211-23). There have been a few excavations and watching briefs (usually in advance of pipeline laying), but not only have these produced no dating evidence, often the trenches reveal no sign of the earthwork (Hill and Worthington 2003 144 and 184). This is possibly due to the fact that being a scheduled monument the digs were at pre-existing gaps in the earthwork where past activity has already destroyed the dyke. In 1965 a group from Gloucester Museum cut a section through the earthwork at Lippett’s Grove in Tidenham parish (SO540001) revealing a bank, an apparently very shallow ditch and a counterscarp bank. In 1978-79 Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service carried out a dig at Birchfield Cottage in St Briavel’s parish (SO535025), but found no evidence of a dyke. According to Hill they dug near the Devil’s Pulpit (at ST543995) in 1983, but the only dig in the area recorded in the SMR was a watching brief carried out two years later just to the north (at SO542000) on a narrow trench cut by the South Wales Electricity Board through an existing gap in the monument.1 The latter dig found the base of the bank and the base of the infilled ditch. In 1993 a dig they carried out at Beeches Bungalow in St Briavel’s Common (SO538031) revealed that construction of the house platform had removed all traces of the dyke. As well as these excavations sections of the earthwork have been surveyed by Gloucestershire County Environment Department (for example in 1995 they started on the area north of Lydbrook, SO602183 to SO596170) and more recently this work has involved the use of lidar data (Nenk, Margeson et al. 1996 255; Bapty 2003; Bapty 2007 24). Location:- The English Bicknor earthwork lies in the parishes of Lydrook and English Bicknor and if we connect the definite portions marked in Fox’s plans (SO592173 southwest to SO584168) this section was up to 1.2 kilometres long, though Hill gives a figure of 800 metres as there are gaps in the earthwork (Fox 1955 184-86; Hill and Worthington 2003 45). This section might be even longer as the SMR/NMR record it about 100 metres further south (SO583165) and there is a feature that follows the same alignment as the dyke further north which might be a hollow way, though Fox and the NMR is dubious of this northern extension. The negative evidence of various surveys recorded in the SMR make Noble’s suggestion the dyke extended even further north into the parish of Ruarden very unlikely (Noble and Gelling 1983 12 and 16). The southern earthwork starts just south of Redbrook (SO539091) and runs southward through the parish of St Briavel’s through the parish of Hewelsfield and Brookwier finishing in Chapelhouse Wood near Tutshill in the parish of Tidenham (to ST536951) 14 kilometres away as crow flies, 16 kilometres on the ground (Fox 1955 186-96; Hill and Worthington 2003 45). A lynchet (ST533945, Gloucestershire SMR reference 21591) may mark a small continuation about 400 metres further south of Chapelhouse Wood (Fox 1955 195-96; Noble and Gelling 1983 2-3)There is a gap about two kilometres long in the southern section between Dennel Hill and Woodcroft (ST549967 to ST538953). On loops in the east bank of the River Wye there are two multivallate promontory forts and though archaeologists have not excavated them, the NMR and SMR assumes they are Iron Age. The first at Symonds Yat (SO564156, NMR SO 51 NE 3, Monument 109563) lies in the gap between the English Bicknor and southern section of Offa’s Dyke (Fox 1955 186). The second at Lancaut (the ramparts run from ST542968 to ST541965, NMR reference ST 59 NW 3, Monument 198723) lies in the middle of the gap in the southern section where Fox failed to find any signs of anything that might be Offa’s Dyke (Fox 1955 194-95). If excavated there Iron Age ramparts might show evidence the builders of Offa’s Dyke in Gloucestershire reused or refurbished them. None of the earthworks in this section is contiguous with parish boundaries, possibly because utilising the nearby River Wye was far more obvious and convenient. Structure :- As it is not certain which sections of the earthworks along the Wye in Gloucestershire are original unaltered by later agricultural activity or quarrying, measurements are difficult to make. In some parts Fox mentions a wide berm, in others he says there is no berm (Fox 1955 187-88). In most sections there is a single bank and usually a single ditch, but the ditch varies from the east to the west side; this eastern ditch being one of the reasons Hill dismisses this earthwork as the work of Offa (Fox 1955 220; Hill and Worthington 2003 146). An eastern ditch is on the ‘wrong’ side for a Mercian border with the Welsh and Fox constantly dismisses apparent eastern ditches as quarries for the bank (Fox 1955 184, 187-88 and 191). The English Bicknor earthwork and the southern section both vary in scale and structure. The northern part of the English Bicknor earthwork in Lydbrook has no ditch, but parts of the front of the bank have a possible stone revetment. Further south in English Bicknor there is a ditch on the west side separated from the bank by a berm. This ditch is up to 5 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep (though in parts only 0.4 metres deep and much narrower) and there is often a counterscarp bank. The bank in this sector varies from 7 to 10 metres wide to 11 to 15 metres wide. The height of the bank is difficult to measure where it is on sloping ground (as this exaggerates the elevation on the western side), but seems to be around 1.5 metres high, though Fox said where ‘recent’ roadway cut through dyke in English Bicknor the bank was found to be 2.1 metres high (Fox 1955 184). The southern earthwork, being longer, varies even more. In the parish of Newland there is a bank up to 10 to 13.5 metres wide and up to a metre high with intermittent ditches on the west side up to a metre deep and 5 metres wide sometimes with a counterscarp bank up to 0.8 metres wide and 4 to 8 metres wide. In places in Newland there are quarry ditches 0.4 to 1 metre deep and 3 to 6 metres wide on the east side, elsewhere the earthwork is merely terrace 4 metres wide and a metre high, and in others it is a scarp of the slope up to 3.5 metres high. On St Briavels Common some sections have a bank up to 1.2 metres high and 6 metres to 11 metres wide with quarry ditches to the east up generally 0.5 metres deep (though in some places up to 1.5 metres deep) and 3 to 5 metres wide (again in places up to 7 metres wide). In some part of St Briaviels’s Common, for example south of Sittingreen, there is a ditch to the west of the bank, this is around 0.4 metres deep and 7 metres wide, separated from the bank by a berm and in places there is a counterscarp bank around 0.5 metres high and 6 metres wide. In Hewelsfield and Brookwier parish near Brook House east of Brookwier there is a bank up to 0.5 metres high and up to 8 metres wide with quarry ditches on the eastern side up to 0.4 metres deep and 2 to 3 metres wide. The Lippett’s Grove the bank stands to a maximum height of 5.1 metres on its northwest face and 1.4 metres on its southeast faces (this variation is due to the steep slope) and is about 12 metres wide at the base. Where the slope is steep there is a berm about 2 metres wide, where the slope is shallow there is a ditch on the west side up to 0.7 metres deep and 3 metres wide and a counterscarp bank up to 0.7 metres high. A series of quarry pits lie to east of the bank in Lippett’s Grove up to 0.7 metres deep and between 3 and 7 metres wide. The southernmost section in Chapelhouse Wood in Tidenham the Dyke is visible as a ditch up to 0.4 metres deep and one metre wide with a bank on the east side bank around a metre high and 10 to 12 metres wide. To the west of the ditch is a counterscarp bank up to 0.4 metres high and 4 metres wide and shallow quarry pits to the east of the bank. An approximate median size for the features in the southern section (working from west to east across the monument) is a counterscarp bank 0.6 metres high and 5 metres wide, a ditch 0.6 metres deep and 4 metres wide, a bank a metre high and 10 metres wide and a quarry ditch 0.7 metres deep and 4 metres wide. {Source Work 10811.} 2011 - A small area was monitored as a watching brief at ST 54345 99556 at the point where a cut for drainage was made before the resurfacing of the Offa's Dyke Path in work carried out by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service for the Overlooking The Wye project of the Wye Valley Area of Outsatnding Natural Beauty. This revealed a soft dark topsoil/trample layer about 0.10m thick over a mid-brown silty clay. It is unknown, given the limited nature of the work, if this lower layer was an upper ditch fill or is the natural subsoil of the area. {Source Work 10876.} 2012 - P. Nichols of Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service went out to record work done by Rural Services on part of Offa's Dyke in Caswell Woods. This was a follow up repair to work carried out as part of the 2011-12 MMS. The repair had suffered from further erosion due to water washing down the path from the south and over the edge of the infilled erosion scar. The area has been built back up using material which had washed down the slope and a lip has been created to direct the flow of water away from the edge. Rather than washing over the edge, to the north, the water should now be directed round to the east to form in a dip from where it will disperse slowly. {Source Work 11782.} 2014 Updated management plan. See Source Work 12623. Heritage at Risk Register 2015 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, extensive animal burrowing, moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 13737.} 2016 - Site visit by Jon Hoyle of Gloucestershire County Conucil Archaeology Service with Peter Kelsall of the Forsetry Commission to discuss potential repairs to the monument, a proposed diversion and badger damage {Source Work 484.} Heritage at Risk Register 2016 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 14393.} Heritage at Risk Register 2017 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 14868.} Heritage at Risk Register 2018 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, scrub/tree growth, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 15524.} 2019 - This monument was previously recorded within the Historic England National Record of the Historic Environment. Additional information from that record, formerly held within the AMIE database, is quoted below: Historic England UI - 1385678 - SO 50 SW 48 “SO 5446 0052. A fairly continuous stretch of Offa's Dyke, the Early Medieval earthwork, runs for 1885 m along the top of a steep slope overlooking the River Wye near Brockweir. Most of the earthwork is covered by trees within Caswell Wood, but its course can be seen clearly on aerial photographs. (1-3) Offa's Dyke is approximately 220km long and is the longest linear earthwork in Britain. It runs from Treuddyn, near Mold, to Sedbury on the Severn estuary. The Dyke was constructed by the Mercian King Offa towards the end of the eighth century AD. It is believed to have formed a territorial and possibly defensive boundary between the Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh Kingdoms. The Dyke is not continuous and consists of a number of discrete lengths separated by gaps of up to 23km. (4) This book contains a detailed description of Offa's Dyke and includes a number of photographs, maps and line drawings. (5) See source for a brief description of the site. (6)” {Source Work 4249.} Heritage at Risk Register 2019 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, scrub/tree growth, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 16466.} Heritage at Risk Register 2020 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, scrub/tree growth, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 17056.} 2017 - A management conservation survey was undertaken by Offa's Dyke Association, Historic England and Cadw during 2017. A managment plan was produced. Each land parcel management recommendation has been added to the field parcels allocated during the 1995 management survey by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service. Project ID OD251 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020600 Guardianship No On Heritage at Risk Register? No Name Offa's Dyke: section on Madgett Hill, 580m west of The Old Mill County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference SO 54596 00929 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 & Tuesday, 22 August, 2017 Form Slighter Condition Trend Unfavourable No Change Vulnerability Low Risk Low Condition Code AIF3 EHP3 EHPp3 VW3 Description Monument section, of slighter form, beneath pasture to the north, and deciduous woodland to the south. The Offa's Dyke Path crosses the line of the Dyke at the north end of the monument section and then ascends a flight of above-ground steps onto the crest of the bank at the south end of the section, where there is significant wear Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Install sacrificial surface along line of Offa's Dyke Path where it coincides with the Dyke earthwork Biodiversity Deciduous Woodland (c23%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley (part, 158 m), Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD252 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020601 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? Yes Name Offa's Dyke: section in Caswell Wood, 280m west of Beeches Farm County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference SO 54503 00377 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Scarp Condition Trend Unfavourable Declining Vulnerability High Risk High Condition Code EBa3 EHP4 EHPp4 VW5 Description ON HISTORIC ENGLAND'S HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER 2017. IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, of scarp form, beneath ancient and semi-natural woodland (c96%). Badger sett(s). Offa's Dyke Path follows the line of the monument section, mostly along the crest of the bank, where there is evidence of wear. Sacrificial surface partially installed to south of section. c3.5% of the monument section, at the extreme northern end, lies within Unit 2 of the Shorn & Caswell Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest, itself part of the Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Install sacrificial surface along full line of Offa's Dyke Path Biodiversity Shorn Cliff & Caswell Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest, 45m (c3.5%, extreme N end only) Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (c3.5%, extreme N end only) Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c96%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley (part, 570 m), Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD253 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020602 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? Yes Name Offa's Dyke: section in Lippets Grove, 680m WSW of Beeches Farm County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference SO 54251 00324 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Substantial Condition Trend Unfavourable No Change Vulnerability Medium Risk Medium Condition Code EBa3 EHP3 VW5 Description ON HISTORIC ENGLAND'S HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER 2017. IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, mostly of substantial form, beneath ancient and semi-natural woodland (50%) and ancient replanted woodland (c50%). Badger setts. Forestry track crossing line of Dyke. Offa's Dyke Path follows line of monument section, to its north and west. Evidence of wear. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Install sacrificial surface to line of Offa's Dyke Path and forestry track crossing Biodiversity Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c50%) Ancient Replanted Woodland (c50%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley (part, 600 m), Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD254 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020603 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? Yes Name Offa's Dyke: section in Passage Grove, 660m west of Sheepcot County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference ST 54252 99799 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Scarp Condition Trend Unfavourable No Change Vulnerability High Risk High Condition Code AIF3 EBa3 EHP3 EHPp3 VW5 Description ON HISTORIC ENGLAND'S HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER 2017. IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, of scarp form, mostly beneath ancient and semi-natural woodland (c70%) and deciduous woodland (c10%). Badger setts. Offa's Dyke Path follows line of monument section to its west. Evidence of wear. Sacrificial surface partially installed to south of section. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Install sacrificial surface along full line of Offa's Dyke Path Biodiversity Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c70%) Deciduous Woodland (c10%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley (part, 437 m), Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD255 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020604 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? No Name Offa's Dyke: section in Shorncliff Wood including the Devil's Pulpit, 790m south west of Sheepcot County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference ST 54221 99106 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Substantial/ Scarp Condition Trend Unfavourable Improving Vulnerability Medium Risk Medium Condition Code EHP3 VW5 Description IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, of substantial form to north and scarp form to south, mostly beneath ancient and semi-natural woodland (c75%) and ancient replanted woodland (c4%). The crest of the bank forming the eastern boundary of Unit 1 of Shorn Cliff & Caswell Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest, also Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation. Badger sett. Offa's Dyke Path follows line of monument section, along crest of bank to north, where sacrificial surface installed; diverted to east of crest to south, where sacrificial surface installed on new line. Wear still evident along crest of bank to south. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Use brash arising from understorey clearance to temporarily block access wear line along earthwork in south Biodiversity Shorn Cliff & Caswell Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (all, W portion of length only) Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (all, W portion of length only) Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c75%) Ancient Replanted Woodland (c4%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley (part, 663 m), Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD256 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020605 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? Yes Name Offa's Dyke: section in Worgan's Wood, 800m west of Chase Farm County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference ST 54332 98654 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Scarp/ Substantial Condition Trend Unfavourable Improving Vulnerability Medium Risk Medium Condition Code EBa3 EHP3 EHPp3 VW5 Description ON HISTORIC ENGLAND'S HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER 2017. IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section of substantial form to north, becoming scarp to south, beneath deciduous woodland (c94%) and ancient and semi-natural woodland (c6%). Badger setts. Offa's Dyke Path follows along line of monument section, now diverted to east (in north) and west (in south) of earthwork, with above-ground steps and sacrificial surface installed. Works recently completed at time of survey. Evidence of significant wear still apparent along line of earthwork, but expected to revegetate now Path diverted. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Biodiversity Shorn Cliff & Caswell Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (adjoins), 67m in (W of N portion) Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (adjoins), 67m in (W of N portion) Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c6%) Deciduous Woodland (c94%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley, Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD257 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020606 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? No Name Offa's Dyke: section in Boatwood Plantation, 320m south west of Chase Farm County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference ST 54842 98493 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Scarp/ Substantial Condition Trend Unfavourable Improving Vulnerability Low Risk Low Condition Code VW5 Description IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, of substantial form to west and scarp to east, mostly beneath ancient replanted woodland (c44%), ancient and semi-natural woodland (c25%) and deciduous woodland (c5%). Badger sett. Recently resurfaced track to quarry at south terminus of section. Offa's Dyke Path diverted to follow surfaced forestry track running south and north of the monument section. Some evidence of wear along earthwork at time of survey. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Biodiversity Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c25%) Ancient Replanted Woodland (c44%) Deciduous Woodland (c5%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley, Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales Project ID OD258 Scheduled Yes Scheduled Monument Number 1020607 Guardianship Yes On Heritage at Risk Register? No Name Offa's Dyke: section in Danehill Wood, 300m west of East Vaga County Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean) National Grid Reference ST 54948 98139 No of Segments in Section 1 Survey Date(s) Monday, May 15, 2017 Form Scarp/ Slighter Condition Trend Unfavourable No Change Vulnerability Medium Risk Medium Condition Code EHP3 EHPp3 VW5 Description IN ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST GUARDIANSHIP. Monument section, of slighter form to north, scarp to south, beneath woodland, mostly ancient and semi-natural woodland (c67%), ancient replanted woodland (c8%) and deciduous woodland (c1%). Evidence of badgers, but no sett noted within Scheduled area. Southern half of the monument section lies within Unit 1 of the Shorn Cliff & Caswell Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest, also Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Conservation. Offa's Dyke Path follows the line of the monument section, mostly along the crest of bank. Wear evident. Action Clear understorey, stumps to remain in situ and be chemically treated to control regrowth Install sacrificial surface along line of Offa's Dyke Path Biodiversity Lower Wye Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest, 405m (part) Wye Valley Woodlands Special Area of Consevation, 405m (part) Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland (c67%) Ancient Replanted Woodland (c8%) Deciduous Woodland (c1%) Landscape Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLW (Gt) 3 The Lower Wye Valley, Register of Outstanding Historic Landscapes in Wales {Source Work 17359.} Heritage at Risk Register 2021 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 17405.} Heritage at Risk Register 2022 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 17931.} Heritage at Risk Register 2023 Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems - extensive visitor erosion, moderate badger burrowing, extensive animal burrowing and moderate animal burrowing {Source Work 18159.} |