Post by lockhopper on Apr 29, 2021 15:53:50 GMT
Castle Ring (Scheduled Ancient Monument)
Located in the village of Cannock Wood at the edge of Cannock Chase, the Iron Age hill fort of banks and ditches would have been topped with a wooden stockade with one entrance only with heavy wooden gates.
The fort was occupied until 50 AD by the Cornovii, a British tribe (originally from Iberia). The area was farmed in medieval times and later become part of a hunting ground with a hunting lodge constructed in the inner ring. Locals tell that there was once a cricket pitch in the middle. A pathway around the monument was created by the Victorians and despite Forestry Commission plantations, the view across the Trent Valley is magnificent.
At 240m above sea level it commanded tactical views across the Trent Valley to the north east and towards Birmingham in the south. The height and lack of forestry would have given line of sight to other hill forts.
• Castle Old Fort, an Iron Age hill fort in Stonnall, lies 9k south of Castle Ring. The centre of the fort is now occupied by a house.
• Berry Ring Iron Age hillfort a mile to the southwest of Stafford and 17.5k west from Castle Ring.
• On a good day it is possible to see the Wednesbury (18k south), site of an old hill fort and later the fortifications made by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great and Lady of Mercia. A plaque in the gardens now on the site refers to the dressed stones of the gardens having come from Ethelfleda’s graff or fighting platform.
• The Wrekin, 42k west of Castle Ring is Shropshire’s most strategically important hillfort and was also occupied by the Cornovii tribe.
Castle Ring.kmz (1.05 KB)
Even with the surrounding heavily wooded plantations, we have been able to witness the lighting of a chain of beacons from the ring, such is the elevation.
Located in the village of Cannock Wood at the edge of Cannock Chase, the Iron Age hill fort of banks and ditches would have been topped with a wooden stockade with one entrance only with heavy wooden gates.
The fort was occupied until 50 AD by the Cornovii, a British tribe (originally from Iberia). The area was farmed in medieval times and later become part of a hunting ground with a hunting lodge constructed in the inner ring. Locals tell that there was once a cricket pitch in the middle. A pathway around the monument was created by the Victorians and despite Forestry Commission plantations, the view across the Trent Valley is magnificent.
At 240m above sea level it commanded tactical views across the Trent Valley to the north east and towards Birmingham in the south. The height and lack of forestry would have given line of sight to other hill forts.
• Castle Old Fort, an Iron Age hill fort in Stonnall, lies 9k south of Castle Ring. The centre of the fort is now occupied by a house.
• Berry Ring Iron Age hillfort a mile to the southwest of Stafford and 17.5k west from Castle Ring.
• On a good day it is possible to see the Wednesbury (18k south), site of an old hill fort and later the fortifications made by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great and Lady of Mercia. A plaque in the gardens now on the site refers to the dressed stones of the gardens having come from Ethelfleda’s graff or fighting platform.
• The Wrekin, 42k west of Castle Ring is Shropshire’s most strategically important hillfort and was also occupied by the Cornovii tribe.
Castle Ring.kmz (1.05 KB)
Even with the surrounding heavily wooded plantations, we have been able to witness the lighting of a chain of beacons from the ring, such is the elevation.
