Fleam Dyke

Fleam Dyke is a linear earthwork from the Anglo-Saxon period that extends for several kilometers between Fulbourn and Balsham. It features a raised bank with a defensive ditch oriented westward.

The earthwork was built in several phases between the 4th and 5th centuries, as excavations in the 1990s revealed. Artifacts discovered beneath the structure indicated it was constructed after the end of Roman rule.

The earthwork takes its name from one of the hills along its line and became a lasting feature in the local landscape. Local people over centuries treated this linear structure as a boundary between territories.

The monument sits openly in the countryside and can be explored mostly on foot. The best time to visit is in drier weather, as the unpaved ground becomes difficult after rain.

The structure shows signs of repairs and reinforcements at different points, indicating it was used repeatedly over many generations. These different building phases are visible in the geology of the earthwork itself.

Location: Fulbourn

GPS coordinates: 52.16600,0.24200

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:58