Cambridgeshire's Sites -------------Hauntings------------ Sawson Hall Caxton Gibbet Madingley Hall Woodcroft Castle ---------------Stone Circles----------- ---------------Major Sites----------- ---------------Legends----------- ---------------Wells----------- ---------------Folklore----------- Heydon Ditch Home Site Map Cambridgeshire England Map Scotland Map Wales Map Heydon Ditch The Heydon ditch is a large earthwork that runs from Heydon to Fowlmere and has been dated to Saxon times, although it may have earlier origins. If it is Saxon it was almost certainly built for defensive purposes perhaps to enclose Saxon lands. According to local tales the ditch is said to be haunted by the phantoms of giant warriors. During excavations in the 1950's the bones of headless Saxon skeletons were found near to the ditch suggesting an origin for the tales Directions: The ditch runs from Heydon to Fowlmere. Woodcroft Castle, Helpston The castle is haunted by the clash of steel and cries for mercy, said to originate from a civil war skirmish. During the English civil war the castle provided a guerrilla base for Dr Michael Hudson, who organised a band of men to cause havoc with Cromwell's troops in the area. Eventually Cromwell's troops caught up with him and all his men were killed in a vicious battle. The doctor, retreating to the roof of the castle fell from the top and managed to hang on to the ramparts with his fingertips. One of the roundheads promptly sliced through his fingers with his sword and he fell to his death below. Directions: The castle lies to the North of Peterborough off the A15.