Woodbury Hill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the hillfort near Woodbury, Devon, see Woodbury Castle.
For the hillfort near Dartmouth, Devon, see Woodbury, Dartmouth.
For the hillfort in Dorset, see Woodbury Hill, Dorset.
Woodbury Hill
View north from Woodbury Hill - geograph.org.uk - 418941.jpg
View north from Woodbury Hill. In the middle distance is Abberley Clock Tower.
Woodbury Hill is located in Worcestershire
Woodbury Hill
Shown within Worcestershire
Locationnear Great Witley, Worcestershire
Coordinates52°16′41″N 2°22′09″W / 52.2780°N 2.3693°W / 52.2780; -2.3693Coordinates: 52°16′41″N 2°22′09″W / 52.2780°N 2.3693°W / 52.2780; -2.3693
OS grid referenceSO 749 646
TypeHillfort
Area11 hectares (27 acres)
History
PeriodsIron Age
Designated10 August 1923
Reference no.1005330

Woodbury Hill is a hill near the village of Great Witley, about 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire, England. It is the site of an Iron Age hillfort.

Description[]

The hill overlooks the River Teme to the south-west. The fort (a scheduled monument) has a single rampart with an external ditch. It has dimensions of about 600 metres (2,000 ft) west to east and 350 metres (1,150 ft) north to south, enclosing an area of about 11 hectares (27 acres). There is an entrance with inturned ramparts at the south-west, and other entrances. A track leads north to south through the site.[1][2]

History[]

The fort is called "Owen Glendower's Camp".[2] In 1405 it was the site of a standoff between the Welsh/French army of Owain Glyn Dwr and the army of King Henry IV of England. The armies took up battle positions, the English on Abberley Hill and the Welsh and French on Woodbury Hill. They never engaged in battle; with their supply routes blocked, the Welsh began to starve. Henry stood down his army, and the Welsh army headed home.[3]

During the English civil war, local peasants met here to form a clubmen society to protect themselves from the ravages of both the Royalist and Roundhead troops.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Historic England. "Woodbury Hill Camp (1005330)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b 'Parishes: Great Witley', in A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4, ed. William Page and J W Willis-Bund (London, 1924), pp. 372-375 British History Online. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ Owain Glyn Dwr And The Battle For Wales Corinne Field, 24 September 2004. BBC Battlefield Britain. Via Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Woodbury Hill (Worcestershire) The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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