Shire Ditch on Pinnacle Hill, looking towards British Camp.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.1.2022)
Images
Shire Ditch descending the southern slopes of Pinnacle Hill, then climbing Black Hill.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.1.2022)
Shire Ditch climbing Pinnacle Hill, from Black Hill.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.1.2022)
Shire Ditch climbing Black Hill (right) and then Pinnacle Hill (left). Seen from further south along the earthwork.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.1.2022)
Shire Ditch running across Broad Down, seen from British Camp to the northwest. Beyond, the Vale of Severn is filled with a temperature inversion all the way to the Cotswolds edge.
Image credit: A. Brookes (14.1.2022)
The northernmost section of Shire Ditch seen climbing up to Worcestershire Beacon. Seen from North Hill.
Image credit: A. Brookes (4.7.09)
The section of ditch north of Worcestershire Beacon is the only part that is an actual ditch.
Image credit: A. Brookes (4.7.09)
The ditch seen descending from Worcestershire Beacon, right foreground. North Hill ahead has a couple of probable Bronze Age cairns.
Image credit: A. Brookes (4.7.09)
Shire Ditch descending Perseverance Hill, with Summer Hill behind.
Image credit: A. Brookes (4.7.09)
Looking north along Shire Ditch – the earthworks of British Camp are visible on the left and centre.
Image credit: A. Brookes (4.7.09)
Shire Ditch (visible to the middle-left of the picture) southwards from Pinnacle Hill.
Image credit: morfe & scott
Along Shire Ditch on the summit of Pinnacle Hill, one may find two nameless tumuli, side by side. They are possible Bronze Age burial mounds and listed as scheduled ancient monuments.
This view shows the southernmost of the two tumuli in the foreground. They are quite small, and have a definite ‘robbed’ appearance as can be seen here.
It’s partner can be seen directly behind to the North.
The site lies along a footpath and is trampled daily, often unseen.
Image credit: morfe & scott
Looking southwards at midday it is quite easy to distinguish the snaking progress of the Shire Ditch. The inverted image picks out the earthwork quite well along the left/east ridges of these mid-Malvern hilltops.
Image credit: morfe & scott
Looking South along Shire Ditch from the edge of Millennium Hill
Image credit: morfe
Image credit: morfe
Image credit: morfe
Shire Ditch (centre, by running figure) at the Southern end of British Camp Hillfort. This (possible) Bronze Age boundary earthwork heads off towards Midsummer Hill*
*Note Kemerton Camp on Bredon Hill, rising above the mist.
Image credit: morfe
The trail south along Shire Ditch over Hangman’s Hill.
Image credit: morfe
Articles
The Malvern Hills Conservators, the charity which owns and protects the Hills and Commons of Malvern, is meeting this week to discuss proposals for a cable car on the Malvern Hills.
The Shire Ditch, one of four Scheduled Ancient Monuments on the Malvern Hills, lies immediately under the site currently proposed for the terminal, gift shop, café and visitor centre close to the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon:
PRESS RELEASE: Conservators to meet to discuss cable car proposal
The Malvern Hills Conservators, the charity which owns and protects the Hills and Commons of Malvern, is meeting this week to discuss proposals for a cable car on the Hills.
The cable car has been put forward by a group calling itself Malvern for All. The group are currently proposing that the car would operate from land to the south of Rose Bank Gardens – to a point just below the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon. Their current plans include a building close to the top of the Beacon which would house a gift shop, visitor centre, café and toilets. The system would require a base terminal building with coach parking and at least three pylons on the Hills, along with overhead cables. All this building would be on land owned by the Malvern Hills Conservators and so cannot proceed without the consent of the Conservators.
Helen Stace, Chairman of the Board of Conservators, said ‘The Conservators were established by Parliament to preserve the natural beauty of the Hills and keep them free of buildings and encroachment. This development would clearly have a significant impact on this iconic landscape, which would appear to be entirely at odds to the core purpose of our Acts. However, the idea has attracted a lot of interest, in the press, within the local community and from regular visitors to the Hills, so we felt the time was right for the Board to debate and vote on this proposal.’
As well as being protected under the Malvern Hills Acts, the Hills have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to their national importance for wildlife and geology. They form a major part of the Malvern Hills ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ – a designation intended to give protection to landscapes ‘whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to protect them’.
A special meeting of the Board will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 12th February at the Council Chamber, Avenue Road, Malvern. The public are welcome to attend. Public questions for the meeting must be received in writing by the Conservators by noon on Tuesday 10th February.
Special Board meeting February 2015 Agenda
Special Board meeting February 2015 Paper
Special Board meeting February 2015 Appendix 5 (Open Spaces Society Letter)
This Is Malvern.co.uk
ONE of the most prominent man-made features of the Malvern Hills may be a lot older than previously thought. Archaeologists surveying the hills have uncovered evidence that the Shire Ditch, which runs along the hills’ ridgeline, could date back to the late Bronze Age. Until now it was believed the ditch, also known as Red Earl’s Dyke, was built in the 13th Century by Gilbert de Clare, the Red Earl of Gloucester, who had been having a disagreement with Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford, over the boundaries of their hunting grounds.
But a recent archaeological survey shows that part of it at least may be 2,000 years older.
At Midsummer Hill, the prehistoric hill fort seems to be built on top of part of the ditch – which therefore must be older. The Red Earl, say the experts, must have just strengthened or refurbished the existing ditch, rather than making it from scratch. “This discovery really adds to the story of the Malvern Hills,” said Mark Bowden, of English Herit-age, one of the partners in the project. The survey is a collaboration between English Heritage, Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Conservators, Herefordshire and Worcestershire councils and other bodies. It was launched in 1999, but work was interrupted by the foot-and-mouth in 2001, when the Hills were closed to the public. The job has been completed, and results are being written up with a view to publication next summer.
A sponsor is now being sought to help cover the cost of publishing. “It will only be a matter of a couple of thousand pounds,” said Mr Bowden, “But it will help keep the cover price down and make it more affordable.” Anyone interested in sponsoring the book should call David Armitage of the Malvern AONB on 01684 560616.
Visited on 4.7.09 and walked the length of Shire Ditch from Hangman’s Hill in the south (it actually continues further south to Midsummer Hill ) to the northern end between Worcestershire Beacon and North Hill. In between are the British Camp hillfort, Colwall round barrows and some wonderful views.
What a great way to spend an afternoon!
A ditch extends all along the top of the Malvern Range, which is said to have been constructed by Gilbert de Clare, the (red) Earl of Gloucester, who married Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward the 1st. The Earl resided at Hanley Castle and received the right of Malvern Chase as his wife’s dower, so, wishing to separate this from the lands of the Bishop of Hereford, he constructed a ditch. It is hardly possible that a ditch alone without a fence or pallisading could keep deer and other game from straying. He swore his usual oath, “By the Splendour of God, if I catch any man trespassing upon my manor I will cut off his hands.”
What an unutterable prat. This is from ‘Camps on the Malvern Hills’ by F G Hilton Price, in the journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, v10, 1881. W S Symonds also calls it the ‘Red Earl’s Ditch’ in his ‘Hanley Castle’ novel (see Waum’s Well).
Topics
Sites within 20km of Shire Ditch
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Midsummer Hill
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Waum's Well and Clutter's Cave
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British Camp
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Kilbury Camp
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Haffield Camp (Donnington)
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Bradlow Knoll
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Colwall barrows
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The Colwall Stone
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Gadbury Bank
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Wall Hills Camp (Ledbury)
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North Hill and Table Hill, Malvern
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Towbury Hill
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Cradley Camp
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Oldbury Camp
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Kempsey Common
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Castle Hill Wood
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Stanford Bishop
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Capler Camp
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Backbury
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Cherry Hill Camp
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King and Queen Stone
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Crookbarrow Hill
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St Katherine’s Well
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Bambury Stone
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Kemerton Camp
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