Monument record MCC7467 - Shrub End Dyke, Colchester

Summary

Shrub End Dyke provides the outer line of the triple defensive system (Sheepen, Lexden and Shrub End Dykes) on the west side of Colchester, aligned N to S (on the east side of Straight Road) and defined for c.2.3km from the River Colne southwards as far as Heath Farm Dyke Middle (MCC2095). The south part of the Dyke was only ever a single dyke, c.900m long; N. of Heath Road, the Dyke was re-inforced with two additional ditches, to create the Triple Dyke (MCC7041).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 965 247 (436m by 2296m)
Map sheet TL92SE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

The northern part of Shrub End Dyke (Shrub End Dyke North), to the north of Heath Road, was converted in the Roman period to form the Triple Dyke (MCC7041). Southward, and still beside the Straight Road, the ditch of the dyke remained single.<1>-<6>

Monitoring during the construction of the Southern Outfall Sewer Scheme, in 1979/80, sectioned a large ditch, which is probably Shrub End Dyke, near the western end of Heath Road, measuring 6.1m wide x 3.2m deep (MCC8063). Also, the same project showed that Shrub End Dyke does not exist at the junction of Shrub End Road and Gosbecks Road, and also demonstrated that the Triple Dyke (MCC7041) did not reach Heath Road.<7>

The ditch was cut (and observed) in two places during construction work at Kingsmead House (Former Royal Eastern Counties Hospital), Straight Road, in 1984 (MCC8070).<6>

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> DESC TEXT: unknown. unknown. The Dykes.
  • <2> Map: unknown. unknown. The dykes.
  • <3> DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - An Integrated Management Plan.
  • <4> DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - A Programme of Works.
  • <5> DESC TEXT: Colchester Museum. 1997. The Colchester Iron Age Dyke System - Task Plans.
  • <6> Serial: Hawkes, Christopher, F. C. & Crummy, Philip. 1995. CAR 11: Camulodunum II. 11. pp.51-52, 159-160 no.81.
  • <7> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1992. CAR 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971-85. 6. pp.924-925, No. 7/79d.

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Record last edited

Nov 8 2016 10:25AM

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