Oldbury Camp |
| Hob Uid: 336255 | |
Location :
Warwickshire
North Warwickshire
Hartshill
|
| Grid Ref : SP3135094700 |
| Summary : The earthworks and buried remains of Oldbury Camp, a univallate hillfort. The hillfort utilises a prominent ridge which rises to the west of the village of Hartshill and occupies an area of some 2.8ha. Traces of the hillfort's defensive earthworks, a bank and external ditch, are visible along the north east, north west and south west sides. The best preserved section of the bank forms the north western defences to the site. It is visible as an earthwork, with a maximum width of 6.5 metres at its base, although its central section has been breached. Much of the external ditch has been infilled but will survive as a buried feature. A causeway across the ditch at the north west corner is believed to mark the site of an original entrance to the hillfort. Oldbury Camp originally extended to the south east, but this area has been extensively modified by the construction of buildings associated with both the now demolished Georgian house, Oldbury Hall, whch occupied part of the site until it was levelled in 1948, and a reservoir which was operational by 1954 and occupies the central part of the hillfort's interior. Scheduled. |
More information : [SP 31359470] Oldbury Camp [LB] (1)
This is a rectangular earthwork with the S.E. side missing.
Various authorities have suggested dates from E.I.A. to R.B.
but they have little supporting evidence. The site was partly
excavated by K. Dauncey in 1949 but produced no dateable
evidence. B.A. Stanley (in a letter of 4.6.57) refers to a "double
contoured rampart" to the S.E. of the fort; this has not been
mentioned by earlier writers.
Dugdale (1656) notes flint axes from the "north part of the
fort", but it has not been possible to verify these. (2-3)
Oldbury Camp consists of a nearly square earthwork. The S.W. side
is somewhat mutilated, the S.E. is missing, but the N.W. is in
good condition and has a typical I.A. rampart and ditch. In the
centre of this side is an entrance which is probably original;
others in the N.W. and N.E. corners are probably modern. (4)
Parallel to the S.W. and N.E. sides, with the ground falling
away, there are indications of scarping to form outer defenses,
but nothing of interest was seen to the S.E. (Mr. Stanley is very
ill and was not contacted.)
During construction of a house (c 1955) at SP 31449463, remains of
skeletons were found; they were sent to Birmingham University
and dated to the "first millennium B.C.". Shown on O.S. Iron Age
Map of Southern Britain 1956.
Published survey, (25" 1959) revised. (5)
Scheduled as 'Oldbury Camp'. (6)
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