48 
COLE : ANCIENT ENTRENCHMENTS NEAR WETWANG. 
western sides of the dales are much steeper and loftier than the 
opposite sides, wliicli gradually slope away, and the impression left 
on my mind is that the steeper sides were fortified as a defence 
against an enemy advancing up the dale bottoms, whether from east 
or west. In every case the defenders would have the advantage of 
the higher ground. If this view is correct it will partly account for 
the strong position at Fimber, which guards the entrance leading up 
to the curiously ramifying dales above, whether in the direction of 
Thixendale or Sledmere, and also for the entrenchments which cross 
the dales leading up to Huggate, and Huggate Dikes from the east. 
Fimber appears to have been strongly fortified on all sides. The 
area enclosed is about one mile in length by half a mile in breadth. 
A plan, with sections of the dikes, was published by the Rev. T. 
Wiltshire* in the year 1862, with the assistance of Mr. R. Mortimer, 
of Fimber. 
Coming now to Huggate Dikes, it may be confidently afilrmed 
that they are, with the exception of the so-called Danes Dike, the 
most remarkable entrenchments on the Wolds. They consist of five 
parallel ramparts running across the table-land or Wciter-parting at 
the head of two dales, one of which slopes eastward to Wetwang and 
Driffield, the other south west to MiUington and Pocklington. From 
a map published by Dr, Burton, of York, in 1745, it is clear that 
they then existed from one dalehead to the other, a distance of half 
a mile, but a large portion has since been ploughed down, though 
distinctly visible to a trained eye. The part which still remains 
intact is in a grass field, called Huggate Pasture, forming a portion 
of the Rector's glebe. I am happy to be able to state that the pre- 
sent Rector, tlie Rev. J. R. Jolley, of Her Majesty's household, pro- 
poses to take steps to prevent any further destruction of these 
interesting antiquities. The length cf tlie existing western portion 
is 220 yards. It is divided into two parts by an original opening or 
gangway about 100 yards from the west end. I was at one time in 
doubt whether this passage had not been cut through the dikes at 
some later date, but repeated examination of the ground has con- 
vinced me that the ramparts were intentionally terminated at this 
point, so as to admit of a level passage through. 
* Proceedings Geological Association, 18b2 
