Length of Grim's Ditch 260m west of Brown Moor Farm

Reasons for Designation

The West Yorkshire Grim's Ditch is a linear earthwork consisting of a substantial bank with a deep, rock-cut ditch on its east side. It lies to the east of Leeds, and the known remains extend northwards for approximately 3.5 km, from just north of the River Aire at Gamblethorpe Farm, Swillington, to Cock Beck on Whinmoor. Less definite evidence suggests that the earthwork survives further south to the River Aire, and north beyond Cock Beck. Grim's Ditch still survives in several places as a visible earthwork. The most likely context for the construction of Grim's Ditch has always been thought to be as a defence for the British kingdom of Elmet, and in particular its major centre, Leeds, against the advance of the Anglo-Saxons in the early 7th century AD. However, preliminary results from excavations of a section of Grim's Ditch at Colton suggest that the ditch was open during the Roman period. Both the bank and ditch can be seen for most of a 1.8 km stretch, extending from the A1-M1 link road at the south edge of Avenue Wood, Temple Newsam, to the A63 at Colton. Lengths of ditch are also visible at Gamblethorpe Farm, and at the base of a scarp south of Barrowby Road, Austhorpe. The remaining known course of Grim's Ditch is not a visible earthwork, but it has been located by means of excavation and geophysical survey. The size and extent of Grim's Ditch implies a considerable expenditure of time and labour, and also suggests a degree of social organisation at the time of its construction. All known lengths of Grim's Ditch, where significant archaeological deposits are likely to survive are considered to be nationally important.

Although the length of Grim's Ditch 260m west of Brown Moor Farm is now buried, geophysical survey in the area has enabled the course of Grim's Ditch to be confirmed. Significant remains of both the bank and ditch will survive as buried remains.

Details

The monument includes a length of the linear earthwork known as Grim's Ditch, at Austhorpe, 260m west of Brown Moor Farm. This part of Grim's Ditch is no longer visible as a surface feature but it was depicted as an earthwork on early Ordnance Survey maps. Its survival as a buried feature has been confirmed by geophysical survey. This has shown that a linear feature survives below ground along the line of the earthworks depicted on early maps to a point 103m north of the now disused colliery, where it appears to have a butt end. It is not known whether this is an original entrance, or reflects some later disturbance. It is also uncertain whether the feature showing on the survey is a ditch or the bank.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

31514

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
WYAS, , Thorpe Park Austhorpe Leeds, (1997)

End of official list entry

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