Blue Bottle Grove Dyke. A Late Iron Age defensive ditch and bank, forms a defensive line with (and is part of) Lexden Dyke South, Lexden Dyke Middle and Moat Farm Dyke.

Eroded sections of Bluebottle Grove (Lexden) Dyke were recorded by CAT prior to reprofiling work by the Museum.<1>

A small scale excavation was undertaken in 1987 at the request of the HBMC to determine the original profile of the ditch and the extent of the bank. Information was required to assist in proposed repairs to the earthwork. A single, narrow (1m wide) trench was positioned to avoid damage to the trees growing on the monument and to minimise the impact on the site. The trench had to be widened to 2m at the centre of the ditch. This allowed the use of shoring so that the original ditch bottom could be reached, 2.75m below ground surface.<2>

Excavations at Prettygate Junction were undertaken by C.F.C. Hawkes between 1956 and 1958 in order to determine the relationship between Prettygate Dyke, Heath Farm Dyke and Lexden Dyke South (Bluebottle Grove). Numerous trenches of varying sizes were dug.<3>

During the construction of a tank trap in WWII, A.F. Hall recorded that the southern ditch was seen to overly the ditch of Heath Farm Dyke.<4>

Profile of dyke recorded in 1972.<5>