Black Ditches, Cavenham
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 Black Ditches, southern section | |
  Black Ditches within Suffolk | |
| Area of Search | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TL774684[1] |
| Coordinates | 52°17′27″N 0°35′55″E / 52.2908°N 0.5985°ECoordinates: 52°17′27″N 0°35′55″E / 52.2908°N 0.5985°E |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 1.6 hectares[1] |
| Notification | 1984[1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Black Ditches is an earthwork close to the village of Cavenham of Suffolk, and part of it is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The earthwork is 4.5 miles long between the River Lark at Lackford and the Icknield Way. It is described by Historic England as probably of post-Roman date, and "a typical Dark Ages boundary earthwork placed astride the Icknield Way". Two sections of ditch remain visible, one to the north-east of the village and one to the south-east, covering a total of 4.5 miles (7.2 km).[2][3] An 730 yards (670 m) stretch south of Cavenham is designated as an SSSI.[1][4]
History
Black Ditches are the most easterly of the five earthworks of the Wuffings kingdom that defended the ancient road of Icknield Way, the others being Devil's Dyke, Fleam Dyke, Bran Ditch and Brent Ditch.[5] It is not as well preserved as the western defences, and unlike these other earthworks, access to the Black Ditches is limited, with no public right of way.
The total length of the ditches is around 4.5 miles (7.2 km) stretching from south of Cavenham towards Icklingham, although there is no evidence of the ditch crossing the River Lark at Icklingham. The Icknield Way crosses the line of the ditch towards the central area. In this area the ditch is generally no longer visible.
The northern section of ditch remaining is around 0.65 miles (1.05 km) in length running across the eastern edge of Cavenham Heath towards the River Lark. The section is less well preserved, although up to 1.75 metres (5.7 ft) high and 8 metres (26 ft) wide in places.[2][5] This section is not designated as an SSSI although it lies on the boundary of the Breckland Farmland SSSI. This section lies entirely within the parish of Cavenham.
The southern section of the ditch is 1.25 miles (2.01 km) long, extending southwards in some form across Risby's Poor Heath.[5] This section forms the boundary of Cavenham and Lackford parishes and between Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury districts before it enters Risby parish to the south.
Plant and wildlife
The Site of Special Scientific Interest covers the southern section of ditch and is 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres) in area.[6] It is bordered on the west by the Breckland Farmland SSSI.
Black Ditches provides an example of chalk grassland on its banks.[6] A wide variety of species are present and the site is especially well preserved as it is believed that it has never been ploughed.[6] The dominant grass species are Crested Hair-grass Koeleria cristata, Timothy Grass Phleum pratense and Common Quaking-grass Briza media. Herb species include the locally rare Heath Sedge Carex ericetorum and Bastard Toadflax Comandra umbellata. Scrub has developed along the edge of the ditch where it is sheltered by woodland.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Black Ditches, Cavenham". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- 1 2 Historic England. "Black Ditches (379628)". PastScape. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ↑ Historic England. "Black Ditches (1006065)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ↑ "Map of Black Ditches, Cavenham". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- 1 2 3 Fox.C (1923) The archaeology of the Cambridge region: a topographical study of the Bronze, Early Iron, Roman and Anglo-Saxon Ages, with an introductory note on the Neolithic Age, pp.123-124. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (available online).
- 1 2 3 4 Black Ditches, Cavenham Archived 2015-05-05 at the Wayback Machine., SSSI citation, Natural England. Retrieved 2013-01-29.