The Car Dyke

Description

The Car Dyke is a Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire mystery. It is an ancient artificial watercourse extending for over 57 miles (92km) from Washingborough near Lincoln to Peterborough. In 1712, the historian John Morton suggested that it was constructed by the Romans for drainage of the fens and as a navigable canal. Nearly 300 years later, despite much historical research and many archaeological excavations, we are still unable to prove or disprove his story.

This booklet describes the route and appearance of the Car Dyke today and looks at the investigations and excavations that have taken place on it over the years. It considers who built the Car Dyke, and why and examines current threats to the monument and its future potential for tourism and recreation.