Monument record MCC7283 - Kidman's Dyke, Colchester

Summary

Kidman's Dyke is part of the western boundary of the territorial oppidum of Camulodunum, positioned to surround the western side of the high status farmstead and associated field systems at Gosbecks, c.2.5km in length (at least 3km including Kidman's Dyke in Walk Wood). The monument includes buried and upstanding remains of parts of the middle and northern segments of a late Iron Age linear boundary earthwork, or dyke, named after Mr Kidman who owned part of the land along its route at the time of its investigation in the 1950s. The division of the dyke into three parts (Kidman's Dyke North, Middle and South).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 966 225 (825m by 2419m)
Map sheet TL92SE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX
Civil Parish STANWAY, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Kidman's Dyke curves out from Shrub End Dyke towards Heath Farm Dyke, which it follows on the outer side (i.e. west), curving S. and SE., around the Gosbecks area (MCC7470).<2><3>

One short stretch, c.280m long, between TL 964232 and 965234 is scheduled and upstanding (Kidman's Dyke North and Middle, NHLE no. 1019991; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019991).

See also Kidman's Dyke in Walk Wood, to the east of Olivers and Little Olivers: NHLE no. 1019961 (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019961). This section is 150m long, aligned NW to SE. The Listing desctiption records, 'The structure of the dyke is best preserved near the centre of the earthwork where the bank measures approximately 11m in width and 1m high (perhaps one quarter of its original height). The ditch, on the southern side of the bank, is 7m wide and has been infilled to a depth of 0.5m.'

The rest is known from field boundaries and cropmarks only.<4> APs in SMR.<5> Other ref. <6><7>

Site Assessment = This section of dyke is mainly grassed with a grassed area adjoining buildings on its west.<1>

AP <8>

H. Laver excavated a section across Kidman's Dyke and Heath Farm Dyke North in c.1900 (No. 30). A.F. Hall excavated several sections across Kidman's Dyke (one also across Heath Farm Dyke North) during the 1950s (Nos. 25 and 26). Hawkes excavated a section across Kidman's Dyke and Heath Farm Dyke North in 1957 (No. 28). Kidman's Dyke North was sectioned by hand in 1973-74, and located by machine in five other places (No. 23). The ditches of both Kidman's Dyke and Heath Farm Dyke were observed in a pipe trench in 1974 (No. 31). A section was machine-excavated in 1978, only to establish the top of the ditch (No. 27).<11>

The Dyke was also defined (recorded as ditch F5) during the construction of the Southern Outfall Sewer Scheme in 1979-80 (ECC3894).

Sources/Archives (14)

  • --- Serial: Hawkes, Christopher, F. C. & Crummy, Philip. 1995. CAR 11: Camulodunum II. 11. pp.33-34, 120-121.
  • --- DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - An Integrated Management Plan.
  • --- DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - A Programme of Works.
  • --- DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - Task Plans.
  • <1> DESC TEXT: AMRF. unknown. Ancient Monuments Record Form Essex 10c. copy in SMR.
  • <2> DESC TEXT: unknown. unknown. The Dykes.
  • <3> Map: unknown. unknown. The dykes.
  • <4> DESC TEXT: unknown. 1960 0nwards. SMR form unknown.
  • <5> AP: CUCAP. 1979. CJF 391.
  • <6> AP: McMaster, I. 1979. 1.77.
  • <7> AP: NMR. 1977. TL9622/26/124.
  • <8> AP: unknown. unknown. Gosbecks Roman Temple.
  • <9> Map: Ingle, CJ, Strachan, D, Tyler, S and Saunders, H. 1993-2012. NMP Cropmark Plot - 1:10,000.
  • <10> AP: Rogers, P. 1990. 32-9.

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Record last edited

Nov 8 2016 10:23AM

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