Beech Bottom Dyke
Encyclopedia
Beech Bottom Dyke, is a large ditch running for half a mile at the northern edge of St Albans
, Hertfordshire
flanked by banks on both sides. It is up to 30 m (98.4 ft) wide, and 10 m (32.8 ft) deep, and it can be followed for half a mile between the "Ancient Briton Crossroads" on the St Albans to Harpenden
road until it is crossed by the Thameslink
/Midland
mainline railway at Sandridge
.
It was constructed towards the end of the Iron Age
, probably between 5 and 40 AD. This, and other similar earthworks in the district, may have been built by the powerful Celtic tribe established in this area, the Catuvellauni
, probably by King Cunobelinus
to define areas of land around their tribal centre at Verlamion
- the predecessor of the Roman city of Verulamium
.
Beech Bottom Dyke is thought to have originally been part of a defensive system for a Belgaic settlement. Other defences are the Devil's Dyke
and another ancient earthwork known as "The Slad
". These may have created a defensive earthwork running from the River Lea to the River Ver
enclosing a very large area).
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
flanked by banks on both sides. It is up to 30 m (98.4 ft) wide, and 10 m (32.8 ft) deep, and it can be followed for half a mile between the "Ancient Briton Crossroads" on the St Albans to Harpenden
Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
road until it is crossed by the Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
/Midland
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
mainline railway at Sandridge
Sandridge
Sandridge is a small village and civil parish between St Albans and Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom.-Early history:...
.
It was constructed towards the end of the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, probably between 5 and 40 AD. This, and other similar earthworks in the district, may have been built by the powerful Celtic tribe established in this area, the Catuvellauni
Catuvellauni
The Catuvellauni were a tribe or state of south-eastern Britain before the Roman conquest.The fortunes of the Catuvellauni and their kings before the conquest can be traced through numismatic evidence and scattered references in classical histories. They are mentioned by Dio Cassius, who implies...
, probably by King Cunobelinus
Cunobelinus
Cunobeline or Cunobelinus was a historical king in pre-Roman Britain, known from passing mentions by classical historians Suetonius and Dio Cassius, and from his many inscribed coins...
to define areas of land around their tribal centre at Verlamion
Verlamion
Verlamion, or Verlamio, was the tribal capital of the Catuvellauni tribe in Iron Age Britain from approximately 20 BC until shortly after the Roman invasion of 43 AD...
- the predecessor of the Roman city of Verulamium
Verulamium
Verulamium was an ancient town in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Great Britain. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated, being now park and agricultural land, though much has been built upon...
.
Beech Bottom Dyke is thought to have originally been part of a defensive system for a Belgaic settlement. Other defences are the Devil's Dyke
Devil's Dyke, Hertfordshire
Devil's Dyke is the remains of a defensive ditch around an ancient settlement of the Catuvellauni tribe of Ancient Britain. It lies at the east side of the current village of Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England...
and another ancient earthwork known as "The Slad
The Slad
The Slad is the name given to an Iron age defensive earth rampart in Hertfordshire, England. It is thought to have formed part of a larger defensive fortification, joining up with Beech Bottom Dyke and the Devil's Dyke and bordered on the other side by the River Lea and the River Ver to create a...
". These may have created a defensive earthwork running from the River Lea to the River Ver
River Ver
The Ver is a river in Hertfordshire, England. The river begins in the grounds of Markyate Cell, and flows south for 12 miles alongside Watling Street through Flamstead, Redbourn, St Albans and Park Street, and joins the River Colne at Bricket Wood....
enclosing a very large area).