Monument record 0014012000 - GRIM'S DITCH, BETWEEN TIMBERLEY LANE AND MERCER'S WOOD
Summary
Protected Status/Designation
- Ancient Monument 1021199: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE GRIM'S DITCH: 1500M LONG SECTION FROM GREAT WIDMOOR WOOD TO OAKEN GROVE
- Planning Notification Area: Earthworks of Prehistoric linear boundary of Grims Ditch
- Planning Notification Area: Earthworks of Prehistoric linear boundary of Grims Ditch
Map
Type and Period (2)
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Early Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 700 BC? to 42 AD?)
- DITCH (Early Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 700 BC? to 42 AD?)
Description
Dimensions - Length 570m.
Plan Form - V shaped.
Between SP89400662 & SP89300651, visible as slight ridge planted with trees & traces of ditch on SE from SP89290649 to SP89230612, with dog-leg at SP89220642, substantial remnants possibly due to reuse as medieval woodland bank. Ditch on SE/E side. S of Great Widmoor Wood ridge E of hedge may be continuation (B1-4).
Detailed topographic survey carried out by Network Archaeology in 1998 in Widmoor Wood and Mercer's Wood (between SP89240612 and SP89410663). 6 profiles across the earthwork were also recorded (B17).
Magnetometer survey carried out along the possible line of Grim's Ditch to the south of Great Widmoor Wood (between SP89230610 and SP89230594) identified a sinuous N-S anomaly, possibly the bank. Other anomalies possibly represent pits and an earlier ditch. It is suggested that Grim's Ditch continues for at least 230m to the south of Great Widmoor Wood (B18).
The Phase 1 Report notes that athough the woodlands is dense at SP 8922 0643 it appears that there is a dog leg junction which is reflected in the field boundary rather than the course of the ditch itself.This maybe another example of 'gang' construction as seen in a cropmark near Pitstone Hill (B16).
Scheduled. SAM no. 35341 (B5).
Sources (8)
- <1>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire. Volume 1. p313.
- <2>SBC3240 Bibliographic reference: CRAWFORD O C S 1931 THE CHILTERN GRIM'S DITCHES IN ANTIQUITY 5 PP167FF.
- <3>SBC4482 Bibliographic reference: EATON CAPT. H B OCT 1980 ARTICLE ON GRIM'S DITCH (FILED) (38 SPARROW CLOSE, BRAMPTON, HUNTINGDON).
- <4>SBC12139 Verbal communication: Andrew Pike (BCM). 1983. PERS COMM, JULY 1983, FOLLOWING FIELD VISIT.
- <5>SBC13988 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 2004. SCHEDULING LISTS OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS: SAM NO. 35341.
- <16>SBC19564 Unpublished document: Buckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Service. 1997. An Archaeological and Management Survey of Grim's Ditch, Buckinghamshire. pp89.
- <17>SBC19565 Unpublished document: Network Archaeology. 1998. Grim's Ditch Archaeological and Management Survey Phase II. pp3,9-11, Figs 7,16,18,19.
- <18>XYSBC19566 Unpublished document: Network Archaeology. 1999. Grim's Ditch Archaeological and Management Survey Phase III. pp4-5,16-17, Figs 7,37,48. [Mapped feature: #46105 ]
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SP 89321 06200 (251m by 901m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | THE LEE, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire |
| Civil Parish | WENDOVER, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (2)
- Event - Survey: Magnetometry (and resistivity) survey (EBC16003)
- Event - Survey: Topographic survey (EBC16002)
Record last edited
Oct 13 2024 4:39PM
