Jul 29, 2019 citing his expertise in the anglosaxon period, professor wood states that recent research into oswestrys history suggests that the landscape between town and hillfort has features and connections dating back to very significant national events in the early medieval period. This forms the basis of a letter they have sent to shropshire council ahead of todays full shropshire council meeting on the draft samdev plan. Allow appropriate housing by oswestry hill fort, says. Jul 27, 2015 it is one of shropshires jewels and now oswestrys iron age hill fort has been named one of the 10 mustsee sites in the uk. Childrens author laureate backs opposition to oswestry. There are a series of notice boards around the site, explaining the history and lay out of the fort. Aug 14, 2008 old oswestry is described by english heritage as the most hugely impressive iron age hill fort on the welsh borders. The antiquarian spirit that inspired the commemoration respected the ancient lines of sight, and the window of the tower faces squarely towards that most impressive of local stone age monuments in the area. There are two entrances, one on the east and one on the west. We are a group of approved volunteers, formed and hosted by oswestry library in shropshire, uk. Oswestry hillfort said to be where king arthurs guinevere was born has lasted. Oswestry iron age hill fort all you need to know before.
Explore ancient british isles hill forts with a new online. Old oswestry hillfort plans, history and animation. The old oswestry hill fort in gobowen from the united kingdom is a beautiful golf strip. Old oswestry hillfort has been occupied since at least the late bronze age although the impressive. Up and down the county youll find about 25 hill forts clear evidence of the iron age civilization which lived here around 600bc. Old oswestry is described by english heritage as the most hugely impressive iron age hill fort on the welsh borders. Mar 17, 2010 a short video about the old oswestry hill fort, check out my site for more randominteresting things. Jun 27, 2015 old oswestry hill fort is a battleground for planners who want to build more than 100 homes nearby. Aug 11, 20 old oswestry hillfort under threat 110820 in appeals and petitions, development, hill forts old oswestry is a large and impressive early iron age hill fort in the welsh marches near oswestry in north west shropshire. Old oswestry hill fort is a battleground for planners who want to build more than 100 homes nearby. The hillfort has ramparts made of five earthen banks and ditches. Hill fort said to be where king arthurs guinevere was born has. A housing development in the shadow of oswestrys historic hill fort should be allowed so long as its design is appropriately sensitive to the significance of the landscape.
The hug of protection event at old oswestry hillfort in shropshire coincided with valentines day. Oswestry hill fort under attack the heritage journal. The oswestry heritage comics are a yearlong series of weekly newspaper comic strips about the archaeology, history and heritage of area around oswestry, shropshire in the uk. Iron age hill fort threatened by plans to build 200 luxury homes. Campaigners are urging people to unite one more time to protect old oswestry hillforts historic setting as an 8year fight over development reaches a climax. Explore ancient british isles hill forts with a new online atlas. To get up to the hill fort you need to climb about 100 wide steps. This place is widely well known for its spectacular and impressive early. Hill fort said to be where king arthurs guinevere was. Old oswestry hill fort, gobowen ticket price timings. We are interested in family history and the local history of oswestry and the neighbouring shropshirewelsh border region. The summit enclosed around 15 acres and, compared to other such sites that grew over time, this was an enormous enclosure. Subscribe, like the facebook page and find all of my narrowboat books here.
A hill fort is an ancient fortification, usually located on a hill top, which either contained a permanent settlement or was used seasonally or in emergencies. Hill fort said to be where king arthurs guinevere was born. Old oswestry hill fort the old oswestry hill fort, known as caer ogyrfan after king arthurs father in law, is said to be the birthplace of queen ganhumara, or guinevere. Protest over estate near old oswestry hillfort bbc news. Old oswestry hillfort, oswestry, shropshire educational. She highlighted some of its 3,000 years of history, from bronze age beginnings to world war 1 practice trenches as well as pointing out local landmarks. Jul 05, 2015 after surviving 3,000 years of turbulent history a new threat has appeared in the countryside surrounding old oswestry hill fort with shropshire council intent on pushing through a housing development abutting the fringe of the hill fort, a scheduled ancient monument in the care of historic england, citing government targets for new builds. The history is rich see weblog for full rundown, the views magnificent, the. Old oswestry is one of britains most spectacular and impressive early iron age hill forts. The accessible hill fort gives panoramic views across north and mid wales, cheshire and shropshire. It confirms they now oppose all three housing proposals adjacent to the hill fort. A brief history of old oswestry hill fort, one of the bestpreserved iron age hillforts in britain. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
The inner two banks and ditches are the earliest and probably dating to around the sixth century bc. Old oswestry hillfort midlands castles, forts and battles. Aug 11, 20 oswestry hill fort is one of the largest iron age hill forts in europe and is hugely impressive by any measu r e yet a plan to build houses right up to its base remains on cou rse. Old oswestry hill fort is the most impressive iron age hill fort on the welsh borders covering 40 acres.
It is one of shropshires jewels and now oswestrys iron age hill fort has been named one of the 10 mustsee sites in the uk. Oswestry town council has now published its official statement based on tuesdays vote. A brief history of old oswestry hillfort, one of the bestpreserved iron age hillforts in britain. Old oswestry hillfort description, plans and animation. Old oswestry is a large early iron age hill fort in the welsh marches near oswestry in north west shropshire. Fears for guineveres oswestry hill fort over homes plan.
These hill forts were built within deep ditches and sported high ramparts to keep out the riffraff. Jun 23, 2017 explore ancient british isles hill forts with a new online atlas. Cowell made a tour of the 3,000yearold hill fort, dubbed the stonehenge of the iron age, during a book signing visit to oswestry two years ago for her latest bestseller the wizards of once. If you are in the car park, stand with your back to the entrance and its ahead of you to the right. The defences of the hillfort enclosed the entire hill with the newest ramparts running almost along its base. Heather hidden gave us an excellent and informative guided tour of old oswestry hill fort, one of britains most impressive hill forts.
Oswestry hillfort is one of the greatest archaeological monuments of the nation. Oswestry iron age hill fort updated january 2020 top tips. Offa house 1 mile n of oswestry, off an unclassified road off llwyn road. The walk is mostly on pavement, then out onto a field to the hill fort. Ten must see iron age hill forts in britain delving into. So far, they have found two sections, totalling 400m, but their alignment suggests that the road connected two key political centres of the iron age tribal kingdom of the cornovii, the cornovian capital, the wrekin hill fort near modern telford, and old oswestry hill fort, near modern oswestry. Iron age hill fort threatened by plans to build 200 luxury. The tower itself is a victorian viewing platform constructed in the centre of a bronze age ring cairn.
Old oswestry hillfort is reputed as the stonehenge of the iron age period dr rachel pope, university of liverpool. Old oswestry is one of britains most spectacular and impressive early iron age hill forts in the welsh marches near oswestry in north west shropshire. Oswestry s story began with the 3000yearold settlement of old oswestry, one of the most spectacular and best preserved iron age hill forts in britain, with evidence of construction and occupation between 800 bc and ad 43. The project is supported by the heritage lottery fund. The iron age old oswestry hillfort is a monument of national importance. Sites such as old oswestry hillfort are an irreplaceable part of our history. The iron age was a period in human history that started between 1200 b. Oswestry iron age hill fort 2020 all you need to know. For over a decade historic england, previously english heritage, has consistently expressed its concerns over proposed development sites within the setting of the hillfort and we have worked with shropshire council to find. One of the interpretive signs at old oswestry hillfort. Oswestry is located at a key nodal point in the border region where the main northsouth route converges. Old oswestry caer ogyrfanhen dinas hillfort on the modern antiquarian, the.
The formidable and striking hillfort of old oswestry is located near the. Fascinating to see the fort and the information boards and very useful. The earthworks, which remain one of the best preserved hill forts in the uk, have been described as the stonehenge of the iron age period. Old oswestry hillfort welcome to old oswestry hillfort. A short video about the old oswestry hill fort, check out my site for more randominteresting things. With roots in the late bronze age, this unique hillfort has survived for nearly 3,000 years.
It remains one of the best preserved hill forts in the uk, according to english heritage. Its highly elaborate defences were probably built out of necessity as the. This is a walk from oswestry bus station to oswestrys magnificent hill fort. The comics are published in the oswestry and border counties adverizer every tuesday, and on facebook. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. May 30, 2017 in the 6th century ad the hill top was entirely abandoned and was used only for agriculture during the medieval period. Old oswestry was built and occupied during the iron age 800 bc to ad 43 and is one of the bestpreserved hill forts in britain. Oswestry hill fort is a mustsee site shropshire star. Theres talk of housing estates being built within yards of it and a big protest is brewing.
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