Police and Cadw, the heritage arm of the Welsh Government, are investigating allegations that a group of travellers destroyed part of Offa's Dyke. Above, the section that was dug away
Posted on 08/16/2013 4:48:46 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
For more than 1,200 years, nothing had disturbed it.
But in just a few hours, a stretch of Offa’s Dyke – one of the most important ancient monuments in Britain – was flattened.
Police and Cadw, the heritage arm of the Welsh Government, are investigating allegations that a group of travellers destroyed part of Offa's Dyke. Above, the section that was dug away
It is believed King Offa of Mercia built it between 757 and 796 to mark the division between Mercia and Wales and protect his land from invasion
The 8th century monument, a linear earthwork which consists of a wide ditch and rampart, runs for 82 miles along the border between England and Wales.
It is a criminal offence to disrupt or damage the dyke, which is designated a ‘scheduled ancient monument’ because of its historical significance. Anyone caught doing so can be punished with six months in jail or a £5,000 fine.
At least 50 yards of the dyke was allegedly flattened last Sunday.
Residents reported seeing men with a large digger clearing scrub and weeds along the dyke.
Over several hours, they flattened the embankment and filled in the ditch to level it.
Jim Saunders of the Offa’s Dyke Association said: ‘We had a report that quite a well-preserved part of the dyke had been damaged by the new landowner.
'There has been some suggestion that the new landowners are travellers, but we’ve been unable to contact them.’
The owner of the field, who claims to have bought the site last month, said he had 'no idea' the area was of historic importance.
The man, who gave his name only as ‘Danny’, claimed: ‘I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never heard of Offa’s Dyke.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Now that I think of it, they should put another one along the Rio Grande.
LOL! I remember seeing that scam profiled on “60 Minutes” probably over 25 years ago or so. They’re still at it, I take it.
We have real Gypsies here in the Czech Republic. It varies; some are cool, and good neighbors, and some......well, not so much.
My next door neighbor is a Gypsy, an older gentleman; honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without a tie, LOL. Dapper sort of older gentleman.
He was the head of the Teamster's Union, so it was probably a diesel dyke.
Unesco ‘law’ or British law?
In the United States, areas subject to such a law would be clearly indicated on a Plat and described in a Deed. I am not sure whether or not this is also the case in the UK. If it is not, then I would be interested in knowing how a property owner is supposed to know whether is property meets some 'historic' criteria.
Finally, I am always suspicious of the fairness and/or validity of any law which is in any way based on a status 'awarded' by UNESCO.
How do you know it?
FMCDH(BITS)
Yeah, at first glance I thought somebody’d run over a lesbian.
The Crying Ajamis used to descend on Miami during the winter like a plague of locusts.
The 'tar the driveway' scam was one of their favorites.
See the movie Snatch. Brad Pitt’s character was a pikey.
Wasn’t it reported that sir Slick Willie Clinton was a descendant of travelers.
Daughter did study abroad in Italy a couple of years ago.
Warned about the Gypsies, they would toss what looked like a child at you and steal your stuff while startled. The little kids would swarm you and pick your pocket. The bus from the central train station in Rome to the Vatican is known as the “Pick Pocket Express “.
5.56mm
It’s on the documents when you buy the house. I once owned a property that contained wetlands. I had to sign a document about it.
If everyone was so concerned about preservation, they should have bought it themselves and preserved it.
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THAT said....... if he doesn't own the land?
Hang him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4UHL9AzPAyI
Yeah, we've got those, too.
Another name for them is Diddycoys. My wife, who grew up in England, told me a lot about them. Most of it negative. They commit crime and leave mountains of trash wherever they go, and authorities don’t do much to inhibit them. They seem to be a protected minority.
Good to hear from a GENIUS EXPERT on British law!
Correct.
Which is why my comment included the caveat “...if no easements/rights of way to protect the ‘dyke’ were in place when he purchased the property.”
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