ANCIENT EARTHWORKS thought to have run by Dance's Wood, Great Noakes Wood and Batten's Farm to Membury Fort. 1 A very interesting ditch or dyke, known as Hug's ditch, consisting of a vallum with a fosse to the west, divides the parishes of East and West Sheffbrd, south of the river Lambourn. Though only a short length is now visible it is said to have run in former days to the old Rectory garden, at East Shefford, where it ended in a mound, since removed. In earlier days it must, however, have extended considerably in both directions, for we find in a document temp. Eliz. a reference to Ockendishein Chaddleworth parish, probably the modern Oakash. 2 There is also a mention of the ditch, under the name of Howker Diche in 1573 in a survey of the manor of Eddington 8 in Hungerford parish, at a spot which has been identified as that where the Wantage road leaves the parish of Shefford. There is also a farm in Froxfield parish called Hug's Ditch. There is a legend that the dyke was constructed by one Hugo, King of the Mercians. It is also said that the hundred court, presumably of Kintbury Eagle, was held at the spot already mentioned, where the high road enters Hungerford parish, and that it was known as Hug's Ditch Court. 4 A part of Wan's dyke is very clearly to be seen in Inkpen parish at the west side of old dyke lane. It is mentioned by its proper name in an enclosure award of 1735. There is an old entrenchment running across Snelsmore Common in the parish of Chieveley, known as Black Ditch. 6 A somewhat similar dyke called Berry's Bank runs north and south over Greenham Common, and is alluded to by the Bishop of Cloyne. It is said, however, to be of comparatively modern date.' Another dyke runs obliquely across Hampstead Marshall Park, 7 and yet another crosses the heath at Stratfield Mortimer, 8 to the west of Groves corner. On Roden Down in Compton parish are a number of small dykes with a ditch on either side. 9 Several are to be seen on the Downs in the parishes of Lambourn and Ashbury, in the latter of which parishes one of considerable dimensions runs along the southern boundary, while yet another can be traced on East Garston Down, running thence towards the north into the parish of Letcombe Bassett. On the unploughed Downs there are numerous traces of small dykes and ditches, which have not as yet been carefully examined. Some are quite modern, being the boundaries of the lands allotted under the common awards, but many appear to be much older, though their origin and use remain obscure. Trans. Netvbury Dist. Field Club, ii. 191-2. Chanc. Proc. iii. 77. 3 Hungerford Town Documents. Hist, of Netvbury and Env. 276. Trans. Newbury Dist. Field Club, ii. 186. e Hist, of Newbury and Env. 161. ' Trans. Netvbury Dist. Field Club, iii. 105. Lysons, Mag. Brit. i. 204. Hewitt, Hundr. of Compton, 74. 275
