ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



thought to have run by Dance's Wood, Great Noakes Wood and Batten's 

 Farm to Membury Fort. 1 



A very interesting ditch or dyke, known as Hug's ditch, consisting 

 of a vallum with a fosse to the west, divides the parishes of East and 

 West Sheffbrd, south of the river Lambourn. Though only a short 

 length is now visible it is said to have run in former days to the old 

 Rectory garden, at East Shefford, where it ended in a mound, since 

 removed. In earlier days it must, however, have extended considerably 

 in both directions, for we find in a document temp. Eliz. a reference to 

 Ockendishein Chaddleworth parish, probably the modern Oakash. 2 There 

 is also a mention of the ditch, under the name of Howker Diche in 1573 

 in a survey of the manor of Eddington 8 in Hungerford parish, at a spot 

 which has been identified as that where the Wantage road leaves the 

 parish of Shefford. There is also a farm in Froxfield parish called 

 Hug's Ditch. There is a legend that the dyke was constructed by one 

 Hugo, King of the Mercians. It is also said that the hundred court, 

 presumably of Kintbury Eagle, was held at the spot already mentioned, 

 where the high road enters Hungerford parish, and that it was known 

 as Hug's Ditch Court. 4 



A part of Wan's dyke is very clearly to be seen in Inkpen parish 

 at the west side of old dyke lane. It is mentioned by its proper name 

 in an enclosure award of 1735. 



There is an old entrenchment running across Snelsmore Common 

 in the parish of Chieveley, known as Black Ditch. 6 



A somewhat similar dyke called Berry's Bank runs north and 

 south over Greenham Common, and is alluded to by the Bishop of 

 Cloyne. It is said, however, to be of comparatively modern date.' 



Another dyke runs obliquely across Hampstead Marshall Park, 7 

 and yet another crosses the heath at Stratfield Mortimer, 8 to the west of 

 Groves corner. 



On Roden Down in Compton parish are a number of small dykes 

 with a ditch on either side. 9 Several are to be seen on the Downs in 

 the parishes of Lambourn and Ashbury, in the latter of which parishes 

 one of considerable dimensions runs along the southern boundary, while 

 yet another can be traced on East Garston Down, running thence towards 

 the north into the parish of Letcombe Bassett. 



On the unploughed Downs there are numerous traces of small 

 dykes and ditches, which have not as yet been carefully examined. 

 Some are quite modern, being the boundaries of the lands allotted under 

 the common awards, but many appear to be much older, though their 

 origin and use remain obscure. 



Trans. Netvbury Dist. Field Club, ii. 191-2. Chanc. Proc. iii. 77. 



3 Hungerford Town Documents. Hist, of Netvbury and Env. 276. 



Trans. Newbury Dist. Field Club, ii. 186. e Hist, of Newbury and Env. 161. 



' Trans. Netvbury Dist. Field Club, iii. 105. Lysons, Mag. Brit. i. 204. 

 Hewitt, Hundr. of Compton, 74. 



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