Reasons for Designation
The north Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch is a series of discrete linear earthworks
of Iron Age date which together make up at least one segmented circuit,
situated between the valleys of the Rivers Evenlode, Glyme and Windrush in an
area of the eastern Cotswolds. In recent years evidence for an outer
concentric circuit has come to light, largely from the study of cropmarks
visible on aerial photographs. The area enclosed by the inner circuit is 12 sq
km and the outer circuit encloses between 60 and 70 sq km. The earthworks
which define this area were only built in open country leaving apparent gaps
in the areas previously forested.
Where visible, the Grim's Ditch always includes a rampart of dumped earth and
stone, a berm and outer ditch and, in places, a narrow palisade trench beyond.
It is believed that, together, these components served to enclose and divide
an area of land and provide control over access through the open country which
existed between heavily forested areas.
The ditch is Iron Age in date and provides evidence of how the landscape was
managed and divided in the period immediately prior to the Roman Conquest. The
high concentration of sites representing Iron Age ritual and agricultural
activity which occur within the area defined by the ditch confirms the view
that it served to define an area which was of particular significance to its
builders.
All sections surviving as visible earthworks, and sections identified by
aerial photography which are integral to a general understanding of the nature
and extent of Grim's Ditch, will normally merit statutory protection.
Details
The monument includes a 150m long section of the north Oxfordshire Grim's
Ditch situated 350m ENE of Ditchley House in Ditchley Park. The line of the
ditch is now followed for part of its length by the eastward drive from
Ditchley to Kiddington.
Much of this section of Grim's Ditch has been disturbed by the construction of
the road and landscaping associated with the park. However, some earthworks
survive while aerial photographs show that much of it remains buried below the
modern ground level.
This section of Grim's Ditch includes a bank, berm, ditch and palisade ditch.
The rampart bank measures 6.5m across and originally stood c.1.5m high. To the
north of the bank lies a 1.5m wide berm beyond which the infilled quarry ditch
will survive, 6.5m wide and c.1.5m deep. A further 3.5m from the outer ditch
edge lies a 0.5m wide palisade ditch c.0.20m deep, no longer visible but known
from excavation elsewhere. This would have provided the outer line of defence
and would have kept cattle and other livestock out of the ditch.
This section is probably separated by an original gap in the earthworks from
neighbouring sections to the east and west.
Excluded from the scheduling are the metalled surface of the drive and the
post and wire fence to the north, although the ground beneath these features
is included in the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21847
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
