Offa's Dyke, Shropshire

Built in the late 8th century by Offa, king of Mercia, Offa’s Dyke marked the boundary between England and Wales and provided protection against Welsh attacks. It is the longest archaeological monument in Britain. Comprising a large earth rampart on the English side and a deep ditch on the Welsh side, the dyke runs some 240 km (150 mi) from the mouth of the River Wye in the south to Basingwerk on the River Dee in the north. In 1971 the Offa’s Dyke long-distance footpath was opened; not all of it follows the dyke exactly because in some parts it has been built over and in others it has almost disappeared. However, long stretches of Offa’s Dyke still remain; this photograph was taken near the village of Newcastle in Shropshire.

Michael Botham/Robert Harding Picture Library

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Offa's Dyke; Offa; Shropshire; Wales

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