Undated ditch or linear quarry, Devil's Ditch or Dyke, near Manor House (EHER 82569)
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Summary
A 1975 OS field survey suggested that the shape of the ditch did not suggest it was defensive, and that it may have been the result of linear quarrying.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 7181 3083 (10m by 140m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WETHERSFIELD, BRAINTREE, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
NRHE data transfer:
Devil's Ditch (NAT). <1>
Devil's Ditch is of ancient date. <2>
April 1975. Field survey.
TL 71823090 to TL 71813076. Devils Ditch or Dyke; name verified. Situated on the lower pastured slopes of an east facing scarp, this tree planted 'ditch' extends north-south for about
130.0m and appears near complete in its present form. The uphill scarp measures a maximum of about 3.0m above the ditch bottom and the downhill a maximum of about 1.3m. There is no trace of a rampart; the position and shape of the work do not imply a defence. The contours of this area show that a natural scarp existed on this line, and with quality sand being the subsoil linear quarrying is suspected with subsequent landscaping. <3>
Sources
- <1> SEX35033 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1969. Ordnance Survey 1:10560 (6 inch) Post War National Grid. 1960.
- <2> SEX188 Monograph: Doubleday, H.A.. 1903. Victoria County History, Essex, Vol I (VCH). p.307-314.
- <3> SEX75700 PERSONAL OBSERVATION: Ordnance Survey. Field Investigator's Comments. F1 JRL 24-APR-75.
Other References
- NRHE identifier: 379216
- National Monuments Record: TL 73 SW 12