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fact of the remains of entrenchments there, but also from the name “ Caer 
Ostruy,” or Ostorius Camp, or fort, existing to the present time in its corrupted 
form of ‘‘ Cholstrey,” by which the hamlet is called lying beyond the entrench- 
ments. It is a remarkable fact that the Roman general always constructed his 
camps at a considerable distance from the heights occupied by the British 
chieftain, and usually on a moderate elevation. Ostorius seemed always to 
respect the vigour of his opponent, and took care to keep plenty of open ground 
before him. The wide marshy valley caused by Stretford brook and the river 
Arrow, both very liable to overflow their banks, would prevent the growth of 
timber, and thus enable him to watch more closely the movements of the enemy 
and save him from surprise. There is no proof as to how long the British held 
this camp, but it is probable that they may have done so at intervals for many 
years ; neither is there any reason to conclude, either from tradition or from the 
existence of burial tumuli in the immediate neighbourhood, that any important 
battle was fought here. There can be no doubt that the Romans occupied this 
camp for a considerable time after the defeat of Caractacus. They are believed 
to have constructed the large outer encampment and probably strengthened it 
everywhere. For many years the Silurians could only be governed by martial 
law, and placed as this camp is at a convenient distance from the Roman road up 
the valley of the Lug, and the Roman station of Black-caer-dun situated upon it, 
on one side; and the Roman road from Magna Castra (Kenchester) passing 
Stretford bridge to Bravinium (Brandon) on the other, must have made it a very 
convenient station for them in after years. The Roman remains found here 
have, however, been very trifling, and it was probably, therefore, nothing more 
than a military station at any time. 
A few centuries later this camp‘fbecame the scene of another historical 
incident of high interest. At the latter end of the 14th century, or at the first 
year of the 15th century—for the date usually assigned is 1401—Owen Glendower 
took“possession of it with his;forces. This renowned Welsh chieftain, being 
agerieved by the encroachments on his territories by Lord Ruthin, and Edmund 
Mortimer being unable to obtain any redress from Parliament, resolved to 
procure it by his own sword. He fought and?slew Lord Ruthin, defeated 
Mortimer at Melienwydd, near Knighton, plundered and burnt the Abbey 
Cwm-hir, whose monks had betrayed him, took and destroyed the town and 
castle of Radnor, and advanced into Herefordshire. Here he was met by Lord 
Mortimer (who only escaped by the swiftness of his horse from the battle of 
Melienwydd) with a second army of 6,000 men, it is said, collected from 
Leominster, Weobley, Wigmore, and the adjacent districts. Glendower’s forces 
amounted to little over 2,000 men, and, having left the camp of Wapley, he was 
laying waste the country on all sides, and had but just time to get his men into 
this camp to prevent his being overpowered by numbers. He had no sooner done 
so than sudden heavy rains swelled the river Arrow and Stretford brook to such 
an extent that it was attributed by the ignorant soldiers to magic. 
** The great magician, damned Glendower.” 
SHAKESPEARE, Aenry IV., 1-3. 
