MONUMENT NO. 110198

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Row Ditch (supposed name), Medieval town defences (remains of). Date uncertain. Scheduled.

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ROW DITCH (INTRENCHMENT) [G.T.]
Constructed by the Scotch Army (A.D. 1645) [TI]. (1)

"...... an earthen bank much damaged & fragmentary, but formerly of
considerably size. There is evidence that it faced S.and had a broad
ditch on this side. It is accredited on the O.S. maps to the Scotch
Army which invested Hereford in A.D.1645, but is evidently much
older. Its position fits in perfectly with that of the medieval city
wall & the castle defences on the left bank of the river, & we
think that it formed part of a defensive zone covering the river
crossing & that its right flank, (now lost) rested on the Wye,
immediately W. of Wye Bridge & opposite the mediaeval defences of
the city on that side. It is probably Norman (cf. Clawdd Du, the
Black Dyke, at Monmouth), possibly earlier, but it is unlikely
that so extensive a bridgehead defence was needed in Offa's time.
[See SO 53 NW 2 for possible bank & ditch defences of Hereford
before the walls were built]. (2)

The entrenchments "which may have been made by the Scotch Army, have
been recently given the name of Rowe Ditch, which does not belong
to them". (3)

Visited 13th-19th July'52. The remains consist of a low bank along
the north side of St. Martin's Avenue, which is a tarmac footpath;
towards the east end the path is built actually on the bank. The
whole antiquity is thus much mutilated & it is impossible to estimate
its original shape & size. There are no indications of a ditch on
the north side, but one may have existed on the south, where the
ground is much disturbed, particularly at the east end. A faint
continuation of the bank westwards can be traced to within 27 yds of
the western boundary of Bishop's Meadow (as indicated by pecked
red pencil line), but beyond this point it disappears completely.
The meadow appears to be made ground; I found a good deal of modern
pottery in a stratum running at a depth of about 3 ft. in the river
bank opposite it. (4)

The bank is as described.

There is no apparent connection, either by type or topographical
position, with the Row Ditch to the East (SO 53 NW 23)
Published survey (25" 1937) to be amended by field surveyor. (5)

These conclusions (see Authority 2) still seem to be reasonable
and probable but there is an alternative view, that these Row
Ditches are pre-Offas works, dating perhaps from the establishment
of the 7th c bishopric of Hereford. (6)

SO 511393 : Condition unchanged since 1962. Published Survey 25"
correct. (7)

The date of these earthworks is uncertain, but their purpose, the
defence of the two river crossings, is clear. (8)

There is no justification for continuing to associate this earthwork
with either the true Row Ditch (SO 53 NW 23) or the Scots Army.
Although date is uncertain it is undoubtedly part of the Saxon/Norman
Town defences. (9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

O.S. 25" 1937.

( 2) Archaeologia Cambrensis

(C. Fox) LXXXVI - 1931 Page(s)21

( 3) edited by William Page, F.S.A. 1908 The Victoria history of the county of Hereford, volume one

The Victoria history of the counties of England (Gould) 1908 Page(s)260

( 4) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JHW 07-AUG-62

( 6) General reference

Offas Dyke 1955 183 footnote (C Fox)

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F3 MHB 22-APR-71

( 8) General reference

Historic Towns 1, 1969, Hereford 4 (M D Lobel)

( 9) Field Investigators Comments

F4 CFW 12-MAY-71

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Early Medieval and later settlement and town. It is not known when the first permanent settlement was established, and although there is no positive ...

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