Old Oswestry is a large and impressive early Iron Age hill fort in the WelshMarches near Oswestry. It was occupied between the sixth century BC and the Roman conquest, probably by the Cornovii tribe.
The complexity of its defences suggests several phases of development. The site was originally occupied by a few undefended round huts. These were then enclosed by a double bank and ditch enclosure spreading over 5.2ha. Entrances were placed through the enclosure at the east and west ends where the inner bank was pulled back inwards to create a more impressive gateway. These defences were later rebuilt and a third bank added on all sides except the south east where the hill's steep slope made further strengthening unnecessary. The western entrance was then remodelled with unusual rectangular hollows separated by ridges dug out and defended by outworks. Finally two further circuits of banks and ditches were added to the outside and a flanking bank placed alongside the eastern entrance.
Although Old Oswestry was one of the most strongly defended hill forts in Britain there is no evidence that the Romans ever tried to besiege it.
External links
Images and description of Old Oswestry (http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/history/2003/12/old_oswestry.shtml)
The town is the administrative headquarters of the borough of Oswestry and is the third largest town in Shropshire with a population of 17,110 [1], after Telford and Shrewsbury.
The former Marcher Lordship of Oswestry was annexed to Shropshire along with the Lordships of Whetington, Masbroke and Knoking to form the Hundred of Oswestry by section 11 of the Laws in Wales Acts 1535.
Oswestry Town folded due to financial difficulties in 2003 and merged with Total Network Solutions F.C. of Llansantffraid, a village eight miles (13 km) away on the Welsh side of the border.
OldOswestry lies across the route of Wat's Dyke, which was most likely built in the 5th or 6th Century.
OldOswestry has been described as the finest example of an Iron Age hill fort in the Marches, and this is mainly because of its highly elaborate defences.
OldOswestry was investigated by archaeologists some 60 years ago, and excavations show the hill fort was occupied probably from the late Bronze Age - before any of the ramparts were built.
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