Wansdyke (earthwork)

Wansdyke (from "Woden's Dyke") is an early medieval series of defensive linear earthworks in the West Country of England, consisting of a ditch and a running embankment from the ditch spoil. It runs from Maes Knoll in historic Somerset, a hillfort close to Norton Malreward in the Chew Valley south of Bristol, to the Savernake Forest near Marlborough in Wiltshire. There is also some evidence that it extended west from Maes Knoll to the coast of the Severn Estuary but this is uncertain.

Usage & Dating

The Wansdyke consists of three sections 14, 22 and 19 km long with gaps between. East Wandsdyke in Wiltshire, on the south of the Marlborough Downs, has been less disturbed by later agriculture and building and remains more clearly traceable on the ground than the western part. Here the bank is up to 4m high with a ditch up to 2.5m deep. There is no archaeological evidence to date the Western Wandsdyke, but it may have marked a division between British Celtic kingdoms or have been a boundary with the Saxons. The evidence for its western extension is its mention in a charter and a road name. Wandsdyke's origins are unclear, but archaeological data shows that the eastern part was probably built during the 5th or 6th century. That is after the withdrawal of the Romans and before the takeover by Anglo-Saxons. The ditch is on the north side, so presumably it was used by the Celts as a defence against Saxons encroaching from the upper Thames valley westward into what is now the West Country.

The area of the western Wandsdyke became the border between the Romano-British Celts and the West Saxons following the Battle of Deorham in 577 AD"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/501-97.html 501-97 AD] . ] . According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Saxon Cenwalh achieved a breakthrough against the British Celtic tribes, with victories at Bradford-on-Avon (in the "Avon Gap" in the Wansdyke) in 652 AD"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/645-56.html 645-56 AD] .] , and further south at the Battle of Peonnum (at Penselwood) in 658 AD"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/658-75.html 658-75 AD] .] , followed by an advance west through the Polden Hills to the River Parrett."The Victoria History of the County of Somerset", Vol 1 (1906)] .

Nomenclature

When the Saxons came upon the dyke, they named it after their god Woden, hence it became 'Woden's Dyke' and, eventually, Wandsdyke. It may be compared to both Offa's Dyke (later, and forming a Mercian border with Wales) and Hadrian's Wall (earlier and forming a border with Scotland) as one of the largest defensive earthworks in the United Kingdom. Nennius, an 8th century Welsh monk who had access to older chronicles since lost, describes these defences and their purpose, and links them to the legends of King Arthur. [cite web|url=http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/wansdyke/wanart/gardner1.htm|title=The Wansdyke Diktat? - A Discussion Paper|last=Gardner|first=Keith S|work=Wansdyke Project 21|accessdate=2008-07-01]

Modern use of name

The Western Wandsdyke gave its name to the former Wansdyke district of the county of Avon, and also to the Wansdyke constituency. It is now in Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority.

References

See also

* Maes Knoll
* Bathampton Down
* Silesia Walls

External links

* [http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/ Wansdyke Project 21] -- A project to preserve Wansdyke (the earthwork). Includes a [http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/faqs.htm FAQ] .