right|thumb|Bank on the southwestern ramparts of the hillfort

Oldbury Camp (also known as Oldbury hill fort) is the largest Iron Age hill fort in south-eastern England. A spring is located near the centre of the site and would have ensured a constant supply of fresh water for the hill fort's defenders. Overhangs and hollows in the rocks on the eastern side of the hill fort were occupied as long ago as the Middle Palaeolithic period and are now known as the Oldbury rock shelters.

History

The hill fort was constructed during the first century BC, likely in a rapidly executed project carried out on a massive scale. The eastern side above the cliffs was probably defended only by a wooden pallisade, as the cliffs there made it unnecessary to continue the bank and ditch along the escarpment.

thumb|left|The northern bank of the hillfort

The defences were subsequently strengthened by adding further material to the bank to create a glacis. The ditch was widened to give it a wide, flat bottom of the Fécamp type, named after a Gaulish oppidum near the eponymous town in Normandy. A stone revetment was constructed at the north-east entrance, probably with a wooden breastwork, above and beside a heavy wooden gate protected by a defensive outwork. The gate was destroyed by burning and a large quantity of sling stones was found nearby. Another gate was constructed at the south entrance but has been badly damaged by the construction of a modern road. It is not clear whether buildings existed in the hill fort's interior, although large quantities of pottery have been discovered there. Parts of the site appear to have been reused for quarrying during the Roman period.

References

  • Oldbury Hill – National Trust