Reasons for Designation
The site is one of a small and poorly understood group of hillforts peripheral
to a major group situated in the Cotswolds. The site is important because of
its unusual character, lowland setting and its excellent condition. It also
has evidence for continued use into the Roman and Medieval periods, the plan
of the medieval village being largely determined by the plan and extent of the
hillfort.
Details
Oldbury Camp, also known as "The Toot", consists of a fort of probable Iron
Age date (1500-50 BC) with a double bank and ditch on its north and east sides
and a single bank to the west. At their highest, the inner and outer ramparts
stand to a height of 1.9m and 1.5m respectively. The site occupies a
strategic but low-lying prominence overlooking the Oldbury Pill some 200m to
the north. Traces of the inner rampart have been noted to the south of the
monument although these do not appear on the OS map. Instead the southern
half of the site is fronted by a large earthwork platform c.150m x 75m in
extent. This has been suggested as representing the remains of a wharf
structure although it is more likely the result of later agricultural activity
levelling the rampart in this area. The site continued in use beyond the Iron
Age; a considerable number of Roman coins have been recovered while the layout
of the medieval village was determined by the structure of the earlier fort.
All modern buildings are excluded from the scheduling; however, with the
exception of the ground beneath the new development south of Wisteria House,
the ground beneath these buildings is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12005
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
