A curving stretch of dyke with western ditch enclosing the Late Iron Age settlement at Gosbecks. The alignment of Heath Farm Dyke North is virtually the same as the Sheepen Dyke, aligned NE-SW, with the major east-west route from the town running between the two. The whole of Heath Farm Dyke is almost 2km in length (See also MCC2095 and MCC), although that section referred to as Heath Farm Dyke North is c.400m long (from it's junction with Lexden Dyke towards Altnacealgach House). A number of profiles have been recorded along its length showing slightly different forms from V-shaped to more rounded ditches. Christopher Hawkes suggested that this shows different work parties, with different ideas, and this may distinguish it from other dykes in the sequence. The earthwork may have been meant to delimit land rather than as a defensive structure. It is the biggest of its kind in Essex. The dyke is cut by Lexden Dyke which has been tentatively dated to Sheepen period 1 (AD 5-43). The dyke appears to disregard the Lexden Tumulus and cemetery which are left outside of it.<1>

In 1939 a NE-SW ditch was found during the Altnacealgach house excavations, with a smaller ditch on the same alignment to the NW, this was later interpreted as part of Heath Farm Dyke North.<2>

During the digging (or recutting?) of a tank trap in 1943, A.F. Hall noted that what he thought was the ditch of Prettygate Dyke ditch cut across by the Lexden earthwork. After Hawkes 1956 work, this was revised and reinterpreted as Heath Farm Dyke being cut, providing a cornerstone observation for the current model explaining the evolution of the dyke system.<3>

During the Prettygate Junction excavation in 1956, Hawkes and Hall excavated a section of Heath Farm Dyke North just to the north of Bluebottle Grove (ECC969). The ditch was V-shaped and 2.1m deep.<4>

In 1957, Hall put in unlocated search-trenches in the field (field 1264) to the north of Prettygate Junction. The Dyke's course was traced by cropmarks to the north-east, running west of the property of Altnacealgach House. At this point Hull had found a ditch in 1939 on just the same course (ECC851). Hall cut search-trenches (in field 1225) which confirmed this line and suggested an end for the Dyke south of the Roman enclosure excavated by Hull in 1939. A smaller western ditch was found parallel to the Dyke's western ditch which Hawkes interpreted as a possible strengthening of defences close to the Dyke's end. The dyke ditch had a more rounded profile at this point.<3>