News and Events
We ran some walks over the summer of 2007, and also an archaeology seminar in September. These were very popular, so we intend to do the same thing in 2008, but bigger and hopefully even better!
Summer 2007 Guided Walks Series
Report
25th October 2007
The Hillfort project ran a series of walks on the Hillfort this summer, using local experts to guide and interpret various topics. These were linked to the History week in Oswestry Library and the Archaeology Seminar. We varied the day and time throughout to allow as many interested people to attend as possible.
Press coverage was minimal despite press releases. Press coverage concentrated on the Seminar. Between 14 and 30 people attended each walk, despite inclement weather for several scheduled walks. The first walk, which was preceded by some press coverage, was the most well-attended.
A feedback form to gather postcode information was distributed during 3 walks, and the results showed that most visitors were local or within a short car journey. Comments were about the lack of signage to the Hillfort, and how people would like more, similar walks, particularly wildlife and botany in the Spring, to visit the ephemeral plant species which are important at the site. There were fears about the Infrastructure project in terms of how much was planned; most people wanted the site to remain ‘undeveloped’, as an important wilderness area close to Oswestry town but were pleased with the idea of improving access up onto the top for more visitors.
Maggie Rowlands
Old Oswestry Hillfort Project Officer
01691 670985
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The Old Oswestry Hill fort Project - Seminar
The Archaeology and Landscape of the Hill forts of the Northern Marches
This seminar was the first of a series of events connected with the Old Oswestry Hill fort Project. It provided an opportunity to place one of the most impressive Iron Age Hill forts in the whole of Britain in its local context and will form the basis for an even more comprehensive conference in 2008.
Contributors included Fiona Gale, County Archaeologist, Denbigh, Shelagh Lewis, Madeley Living History Project and CBA West Midlands., David Matthews, Planning Officer, Cheshire County Council., and Margaret Worthington, Porthywaen Study Centre
The full report from the seminar, including compiled results from feedback survey, is available on the link below.
http://www.shrop.net/oldoswestryhillfort/assets/documents/hillfort-seminar-2007-report/
