HER Record
HER ID: 18716, Froxfield Long Entrenchments
HER Summary: A linear earthwork of uncertain date which runs for 5km. It may be a Saxon dyke.
HER Category: Monument
HER Web Link: No link available
Investigation Activities
Type: Bibliographic Reference
Description: (1) Book by Williams-Freeman published in 1913. (2) OS card. (4) Article in PHFC from 1976. (5) Article in the Hampshire Field Club newsletter 2001.
Date Range: 1915 - 2001
Type: Field Survey
Description: The Froxfield Dykes - all are wide banks with ditches on their western side and seem to have been built to control access from the west. These Froxfield Dykes are a series of fairly massive linear earthworks and comprise a major linear feature that extends from bordean Combe to just north of Bydean Farm, in total approximately 2.5km. To the north there is another shorter section of about 300m, north of Woodfield Farm (MONUID 18727) and there are also three other shorter 'cross-valley dykes' sections east of the 'long entrenchment', all of these are just over 100m long and take the form of banks 2-5m above a ditch to their west. The southern end of the long entrenchment has a second bank to its south forming a short triangle that must have ended at the topo of Bordean gorge. All the other bank terminuses end abruptly and this probably indicated loss due to later arable cultivation.
Date Range: 2001 - 2001
Type: Air Photo Survey
Description: (3)
Date Range: 1984 - 1984
Type: Bibliographic Reference
Description: (1) Book by Williams-Freeman published in 1913. (2) OS card. (4) Article in PHFC from 1976. (5) Article in the Hampshire Field Club newsletter 2001.
Date Range: 1915 - 2001
Type: Field Survey
Description: The Froxfield Dykes - all are wide banks with ditches on their western side and seem to have been built to control access from the west. These Froxfield Dykes are a series of fairly massive linear earthworks and comprise a major linear feature that extends from bordean Combe to just north of Bydean Farm, in total approximately 2.5km. To the north there is another shorter section of about 300m, north of Woodfield Farm (MONUID 18727) and there are also three other shorter 'cross-valley dykes' sections east of the 'long entrenchment', all of these are just over 100m long and take the form of banks 2-5m above a ditch to their west. The southern end of the long entrenchment has a second bank to its south forming a short triangle that must have ended at the topo of Bordean gorge. All the other bank terminuses end abruptly and this probably indicated loss due to later arable cultivation.
Date Range: 2001 - 2001
Type: Air Photo Survey
Description: (3)
Date Range: 1984 - 1984
Historic Events
Type: Unassigned
Classification: Linear Earthwork
Form: Unknown
Description: (1) Froxfield Long Entrenchment: runs for 2-3 miles (3.2-4.8km) 0.5 mile (0.8km) in advance of the Short Entrenchment (SU72NW6-8). Apparently a defensive bank and ditch facing W, running over high and low ground. Another dyke runs towards it from the NE at the S end. Most marked at S: bank and ditch height 16ft (4.87m), overall width 60ft (18.28m). (2) Much mutilated (1956) Boundary of C.8th Saxon sub-kingdom? (1968) (3) Parts of the earthwork are now only visible as plough levelled bank and ditch on air photographs. HCC AP ref: run25e221
Date Range: 9999 - 9999
Type: Unassigned
Classification: Dyke (Defence)
Form: Unknown
Description: (4) A number of dykes more or less end on. The banks are typically 7 to 16ft above a ditch which lies to the W of it. There is a report that C13 to C16 objects have been found. (5) About 5km in length, it is at its highest to the S. It is possible it may relate to defence during the Saxon period either C7 or C8, although there is no concrete evidence for this.
Date Range: 600 - 799
Type: Unassigned
Classification: Linear Earthwork
Form: Unknown
Description: (1) Froxfield Long Entrenchment: runs for 2-3 miles (3.2-4.8km) 0.5 mile (0.8km) in advance of the Short Entrenchment (SU72NW6-8). Apparently a defensive bank and ditch facing W, running over high and low ground. Another dyke runs towards it from the NE at the S end. Most marked at S: bank and ditch height 16ft (4.87m), overall width 60ft (18.28m). (2) Much mutilated (1956) Boundary of C.8th Saxon sub-kingdom? (1968) (3) Parts of the earthwork are now only visible as plough levelled bank and ditch on air photographs. HCC AP ref: run25e221
Date Range: 9999 - 9999
Type: Unassigned
Classification: Dyke (Defence)
Form: Unknown
Description: (4) A number of dykes more or less end on. The banks are typically 7 to 16ft above a ditch which lies to the W of it. There is a report that C13 to C16 objects have been found. (5) About 5km in length, it is at its highest to the S. It is possible it may relate to defence during the Saxon period either C7 or C8, although there is no concrete evidence for this.
Date Range: 600 - 799
