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Old Oswestry
Iron Age hillfort in Shropshire, England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Oswestry Castle.
Old Oswestry (Welsh: Hen Ddinas) is a large early Iron Age hill fort in the Welsh Marches near Oswestry in north west Shropshire, England. 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". After the hill fort was abandoned, it was incorporated into Wat's Dyke by the Mercians during the Early Medieval period.[1]
Quick Facts Location, Region ...
![]() An easternly view of the western entrance to Old Oswestry hill fort | |
Location of Old Oswestry Hill Fort within Shropshire | |
Location | Oswestry, Shropshire |
---|---|
Region | West Midlands |
Coordinates | 52.87273°N 3.04886°W / 52.87273; -3.04886 |
OS grid reference | SJ 2957 3103 |
Altitude | 165 m (541 ft) |
Type | Hillfort |
Area | 25 ha (62 acres) |
Diameter | 500 m (550 yd) |
Circumference | 1,600 yd (1,500 m) |
Height | 27 m (89 ft) |
History | |
Material | earth and wood |
Founded | 8th century BCE |
Abandoned | Roman conquest of Britain |
Periods | Iron Age Roman Britain |
Cultures | Celtic people of Iron Age Britain |
Associated with | Cornovii or Ordovices |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1939 |
Archaeologists | William J Varley |
Management | English Heritage |
Public access | free |
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The hill fort was designated as a scheduled monument in 1934. The site is now managed by English Heritage. The accessible hill fort, at 160 metres (520 ft) ordnance datum,[2] gives panoramic views across North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.