Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork
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King Lud's Intrenchments were long considered to be Saxon - the King Lud in question being Ludeca of Mercia (a bit too far for King Lud, legendary founder of London?). However, it's now thought that the bank and ditches are prehistoric and part of an extensive boundary system stretching from Northamptonshire to the Humber: the 'Jurassic Spine'. The Intrenchments cross it at right angles. Three banks run parallel, separated by two ditches (one originally V-shaped, the other U-shaped, apparently). To the East they join a prehistoric trackway called Sewstern Lane (Sewstern Drift)*. The parish boundary runs along their entire length.
A Bronze Age barrow cemetery lies alongside - there were at least twelve barrows originally but now only one (or two?) survive. They were reused for burials in Saxon times.
Near the barrows is an area known as 'The Tent', a small quarry where legend has it King Lud kept his horses (according to Leonard Cantor in his 'Scheduled Ancient Monuments of Leicestershire and Rutland' (1993) - other info from the EH record accessed at MAGIC) and see * this book also.
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Posted by Rhiannon
7th July 2004ce
Edited 12th March 2010ce
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