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, which falls into two areas, includes a 650m long section of the
north Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch running from east to west, commencing c.100m
south west of Common Farm. It is cut by a feeder water main from the North
Leigh Reservoir 150m west of its eastern end.
This section of Grim's Ditch has a rampart bank measuring c.6m wide,
originally standing up to 2m high although it presently stands no more than
0.5m above the modern ground level. To the south is a 4m wide berm which
separates the bank from a ditch which measures from 5m-10m wide at the
surface. This ditch has become infilled over the years and is difficult to see
at ground level. However, it is known from excavation to survive below ground
level to its original depth of 2m.
The section east of the main has been reduced by cultivation from the medieval
period onwards, but is clearly visible on aerial photographs which show it
ending in a terminal at its eastern end.
Excluded from the scheduling are the post and wire fences forming the field
boundaries, although the ground beneath all of these is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21845
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
