THE 



WILTSHIR E MAGA ZINE. 



"MULT0RUM MANIBUS GRANDE LEVATUR ONUS." — Ovid. 



Jtlics of Jttaent J ovulation on (Sl^httg pill 



Wilts. 



By Mr. Cunnington, F.G.S. 



ILDBURY 1 is conspicuous amongst the chalk hills of North 

 |H Wilts, on account of its height, 812ft. above the mean 

 sea-level at Liverpool. It is also marked by the obelisk erected 

 by Henry, Marquis of Lansdowne (the first Patron of the Wilts 

 Archaeological and Natural History Society), to commemorate the 

 birth of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. This is built of North 

 Wilts oolitic stone, and is 127ft. in height. It forms a promi- 

 nent landmark for a great extent of country, and is a very 

 picturesque object from the grounds of Bo wood Park. But 

 Oldbury is most remarkable for the grand ancient encampment 

 which crowns its summit. On this Sir R. Colt Hoare makes the 

 following" remarks : — " This earthen-work is one of the most in- 

 teresting in our county, and bears such evident marks of antiquity, 

 that I make no doubt this hill owed its first agger to the Britons, 

 and the additional ramparts to the Saxons. Its situation towards 

 the north-east is rendered particularly strong by Nature, and fortified 

 by deep ravines, and very indented ground. Though there might 

 have been some approach to the camp from the north, yet the prin- 

 cipal entrance is ascertained to have been made to the south-east by 

 an outwork still visible. The camp is doubly ditched, and contains 

 within its area twenty-five acres : the circumference of its ramparts 

 is twelve hundred and seventy-six yards, and the height of them 



1 D. v., Rev. A. C. Smith's Map. 

 VOL. XXIII. NO. LXIX. Q 



