A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE 



both of them are fortified. The first is of such low elevation as hardly 

 to deserve the name of a hill — it is rather a tump ; the second is the 

 great outlying detached hill of the Cotsvi^olds — Bredon. 



(6) The tump or hill is called Gadbury Bank near Eldersfield (fig. 

 4), Although of a very low elevation, only some 186 feet, yet as it is 

 the only spot rising above the dead level of the river, from its isolated 

 position really occupies a commanding situation, and there is a very ex- 

 tensive view from its summit. The earthworks are an irregular oval. 



U^cUe, 6 <^ncAes to cl UftcUlcte y^ile, 



following the shape of the summit of the hill which it encloses. There 

 is an oblique entrance on the north-east side, and another but smaller one 

 on the north-west corner. Its greatest length is said to be 390 yards and 

 its width across the centre 1 1 2 yards. No objects are mentioned as having 

 been found here, nor is there any record or tradition regarding it. From 

 its position it would seem that advantage was taken of the only suitable 

 place for a fort in the river valley between Malvern and Bredon. 

 Formerly it must have been a very strong position, as it was in the 



188 



