Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)

GE Map of Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)
Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)
Dykes in Yellow- GE
Old Map
Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)
1800s Map
Geological Landscape
Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)
Prehistoric Water levels (BGS Superficial Soils) – Dykes link to Waterways
Landscape/Terrain
Prehistoric Northumberland Canals (Dykes)
LiDAR (Low Resolution)

Database of DYKES (Linear Earthworks) in Northumberland

(Click the ‘HE Entry Ref: Number’ (if blue) for more details and Maps)

NameHE Entry Ref:NGFLength (m)Overall Width (m)Ditch Width (m)Bank Width (m)
Three cross Dykes on Middle Hill1007525NT87318 12052
Three cross Dykes on Middle Hill1007525NT87321 12792
Three cross Dykes on Middle Hill (missing)1007525NT87388 12197
Three cross Dykes on Middle Hill1007525NT87403 12912
Three cross Dykes on Middle Hill (missing)1007525NT87440 13004396734
Cross dyke, 200m south east of Hosedon Linn1008274NT 91943 08021341844
Cross dyke south east of Uplaw Knowe1008275NT 91497 08479293844
Cross dyke south east of Uplaw Knowe (missing)1008275NT 91616 08487668844
Witchy Neuk univallate hillfort and linear boundary 600m west of Hepple Whitefield Farm1008873NY 98266 99217
Hadrian's Wall and vallum from Throckley to East Town House, Heddon-on-the-Wall in wall mile 111010616NZ 14310 66842
Hadrian's Wall and vallum from East Town House, Heddon-on-the-Wall to the A69 trunk road in wall mile 121010617NZ 12879 67062
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the March Burn and Oatens Bank, Harlow Hill in wall miles 13,14 and 151010618NZ 09314 67801
The vallum between Oatens Bank, Harlow Hill, and Whittle Dene Watercourse in wall mile 161010621NZ 07214 68050
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B6309 and the B6321 in wall miles 16, 17 and 181010622NZ 05078 68302
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between Sunnybrae at Halton Shields and Haltonchesters Roman fort in wall miles 20 and 211010623NZ 00877 68579
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the Fence Burn and the track to Portgate Cottage in wall miles 21 and 221010625NY 98763 68461
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the track to Portgate Cottage and the field boundary east of milecastle 24 in wall miles 22 and 231010626NY 97047 69032
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between field boundary east of milecastle 24 and field boundary west of the site of turret 25b in wall miles 24 to 251010958NY 94794 69391
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between Chesters and the road to Simonburn in wall miles 27, 28 and 291010960NY 89572 70805
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the road to Simonburn and the field boundary east of Carrawburgh car park in wall miles 29, 30 and 311010961NY 87219 71460
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the field boundary west of Coventina's Well and the field boundary at Brown Dikes in wall miles 31 and 321010962NY 84604 70985
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the field boundary at Brown Dikes and the field boundary east of turret 34a in wall miles 32, 33 and 341010963NY 82560 70612
The vallum and early Roman road between the field boundary east of turret 34a and the field boundary west of milecastle 36 in wall miles 34, 35 and 361010965NY 80554 69615
The vallum and a British settlement between the field boundary west of turret 37a and the road to Steel Rigg car park, in wall miles 37, 38 and 391010972NY 76692 67307
The vallum between the road to Steel Rigg car park and the road in Caw Gap in wall miles 39, 40 and 411010974NY 74002 66774
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the road to Caw Gap and the Caw Burn in wall miles 41 and 421010975NY 71916 66692
The vallum between Cockmount Hill and Walltown Quarry West in wall miles 43, 44 and 451010978NY 68462 66300
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the field boundary west of Carvoran Roman fort and the west side of the B6318 road in wall mile 461010992NY 65974 65989775361013 x 2
Hadrian's Wall, vallum, section of the Stanegate Roman road and a Roman temporary camp between the B6318 road and Poltross Burn in wall miles 46 and 471010993NY 64601 65984
Cross dyke, South of Campville (missing)1011396NT 94427 02605418743
Cross dyke, South of Campville (missing)1011396NT 94687 02165
Cross dyke, South of Campville1011396NT 94702 02223
Carrawburgh Roman fort and Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the field boundary east of the fort and the field boundary west of Coventina's Well in wall mile 311015914NY 85746 71169
Lordenshaw multivallate hillfort, Romano-British settlements, field system, cairnfield, cross dyke, round cairn cemetery, rock art and medieval park pale1017196NZ 05554 99220
Rudchester Roman fort, associated civil settlement and a section of Hadrian's Wall and vallum from the A69 to the March Burn in wall mile 131017533NZ 11538 67420
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between the B6321 and Sunnybrae at Halton Shields, in wall miles 18 and 191017534NZ 02781 68574
Cross Dyke and two building foundations at Copper Snout1017736NT 89038 08885474633
Hadrian's Wall and vallum between St Oswald's Cottages, east of Brunton Gate and the North Tyne in wall miles 25, 26 and 271018581NY 92493 69695
Housesteads fort, section of Wall and vallum between the field boundary west of milecastle 36 and the field boundary west of turret 37a in wall miles 36 and 371018585NY 78838 68489

Dykes Ditches and Earthworks

Indeed, the modern term “dyke” or “dijk” can be traced back to its Dutch origins.  As early as the 12th century, the construction of Dykes in the Netherlands was a well-established practice.  One remarkable example of their ingenuity is the Westfriese Omringdijk, stretching an impressive 126 kilometres (78 miles), completed by 1250.  This Dyke was formed by connecting existing older ‘dykes’, showcasing the Dutch mastery in managing their aquatic landscape.

The Roman chronicler Tacitus even provides an intriguing historical account of the Batavi, a rebellious people who employed a unique defence strategy during the year AD 70.  They punctured the Dykes daringly, deliberately flooding their land to thwart their enemies and secure their retreat.  This historical incident highlights the vital role Dykes played in the region’s warfare and water management.

Originally, the word “dijk” encompassed both the trench and the bank, signifying a comprehensive understanding of the Dyke’s dual nature – as both a protective barrier and a channel for water control.  This multifaceted concept reflects the profound connection between the Dutch people and their battle against the ever-shifting waters that sought to reclaim their land.

The term “dyke” evolved as time passed, and its usage spread beyond the Dutch borders.  Today, it represents not only a symbol of the Netherlands’ engineering prowess but also a universal symbol of human determination in the face of the relentless forces of nature.  The legacy of these ancient Dykes lives on, a testament to the resilience and innovation of those who shaped the landscape to withstand the unyielding currents of time.

Upon studying archaeology, whether at university or examining detailed ordinance survey maps, one cannot help but encounter peculiar earthworks scattered across the British hillsides.  Astonishingly, these enigmatic features often lack a rational explanation for their presence and purpose.  Strangely enough, these features are frequently disregarded in academic circles, brushed aside, or provided with flimsy excuses for their existence.  The truth is, these earthworks defy comprehension unless we consider overlooked factors at play.

One curious observation revolves around the term “Dyke,” inherently linked to water.  It seems rather peculiar to apply such a word to an earthwork atop a hill unless an ancestral history has imparted its actual function through the ages.  Let us consider the celebrated “Offa’s Dyke,” renowned for its massive linear structure, meandering along some of the present boundaries between England and Wales.  This impressive feat stands as a testament to the past, seemingly demarcating the realms of the Anglian kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys during the 8th century.

However, delving further into the evidence and historical accounts challenges this seemingly straightforward explanation.  Roman historian Eutropius, in his work “Historiae Romanae Breviarium”, penned around 369 AD, mentions a grand undertaking by Septimius Severus, the Roman Emperor, from 193 AD to 211 AD.  In his pursuit of fortifying the conquered British provinces, Severus constructed a formidable wall stretching 133 miles from coast to coast.

Yet, intriguingly, none of the known Roman defences match this precise length.  Hadrian’s Wall, renowned for its defensive prowess, spans a mere 70 miles.  Could Eutropius have referred to Offa’s Dyke, which bears remarkable similarity to the Roman practice of initially erecting banks and ditches for defence?

For more information click HERE

Further Reading

For information about British Prehistory, visit www.prehistoric-britain.co.uk for the most extensive archaeology blogs and investigations collection, including modern LiDAR reports.  This site also includes extracts and articles from the Robert John Langdon Trilogy about Britain in the Prehistoric period, including titles such as The Stonehenge Enigma, Dawn of the Lost Civilisation and the ultimate proof of Post Glacial Flooding and the landscape we see today.

Robert John Langdon has also created a YouTube web channel with over 100 investigations and video documentaries to support his classic trilogy (Prehistoric Britain). He has also released a collection of strange coincidences that he calls ‘13 Things that Don’t Make Sense in History’ and his recent discovery of a lost Stone Avenue at Avebury in Wiltshire called ‘Silbury Avenue – the Lost Stone Avenue’.

Langdon has also produced a series of ‘shorts’, which are extracts from his main body of books:

The Ancient Mariners

Stonehenge Built 8300 BCE

Old Sarum

Prehistoric Rivers

Dykes ditches and Earthworks

Echoes of Atlantis

Homo Superior

For active discussions on the findings of the TRILOGY and recent LiDAR investigations that are published on our WEBSITE, you can join our and leave a message or join the debate on our Facebook Group.