BISHOPS DYKE

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Alleged defensive earthwork to protect the Manor of Dalston during the Scottish wars although possibly earlier. Partly upstanding earthwork.

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Bishop's Dyke - probably formed as a defensive earthwork during the Scottish wars for the manor of Dalston, and consists of a double ditch with a causeway between.
Commencing near the River Caldew at Cummersdale, the dyke passes to the north of Dalston Hall, crosses the Dalston-Carlisle road at East Barras, continues for two hundred yards and then swings south-west. It is then lost in a morass but is well preserved in a strip of wood to the south.
From here it continues to West Barras at Barras Brow Foot, crosses Barras Lane, then along Buebank Lane to Bruntgate, then along a footpath to Bellgate, and, continuing in a south-west direction, finally ends on the steep banks of Shawk Beck.
The word `Barras' which occurs along the length of the dyke is Old French for `barrier' or `outwork'(5), and Ferguson (4) implies that it marks the enclosure round the Teutonic `ton' of Dalston, dug by early settlers. (1-5)
Bishop's Dyke is generally in poor condition. Published survey (25") revised. (6)

See Linear Archive File LINEAR 63 for further details. (7)

There is a possible Mediaeval gateway at NY374518. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" Prov. Ed 1956

(2) Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society extra series

Curwen H. 13, 1913 Page(s)26-8

(3) Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society

23, 1923 Page(s)239

(4) Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society extra series

Ferguson R S. 7, 1984 Page(s)271-78

(5) General reference

Armstrong A M. 1950. English Place-Name Society Vol 3 - Cumberland. 70. Page(s)207

(6) Field Investigators Comments

B H Pritchard/05-DEC-1969/Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator

(7) General reference

Ordnance Survey Linear Archive File LINEAR 63 in NMRC

(8) Denis R Perriam and John Robinson 1998 The medieval fortified buildings of Cumbria : an illustrated gazetteer and research guide

Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society extra series vol.29 Page(s)196

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Description

BARRAS GATE
DALSTON

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Possibly 16th century gate or bar in Bishop's Dyke to prevent cattle wandering into Dalston village?

EAST BARRAS
DALSTON

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Possibly 16th century gate or bar in Bishop's Dyke. Gap only visible.

BARRASS GATE
ORTON

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Also known as the Great Orton Dyke. Alleged defensive earthwork and gate to repel the Scots. No trace.

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