NEOLITHIC PERIOD
approx. 4000 - 2000 BC
The earliest traces of man in this area are late Mesolithic
to early Neolithic flints, sherds and other implements. One might believe
that the people of these ancient times were less organised as a society than
ourselves yet they were responsible for substantial ritual sites like the
Pallisade descovered in the Hindwell Valley, a project which would have needed
large amounts of labour to be supported by the agricultural and managerial
efforts of other sections of the local society. Some barrows (burial mounds)
in the area have been dated to this period and a contender for a Neolithic
house has been excavated, also in the Hindwell area. Aerial photography continues
to reveal evidence of ancient sites, many undatable, however finds associated
with a particular type of site may help to date other similar sites.
Click on sites for details
ANCIENT STONES
Thought to date variously from late Neolithic to early Bronze
Age, Standing Stones are among the oldest visible remains evident in the landscape.
Their interpretation remains a matter of debate, some may be markers, others
sighting-stones with terrestrial and/or celestial alignments as well as the
probable tomb or funerary group at Four Stones in the Hindwell valley - what
is said to have been a fifth stone from this group was made into the font
at nearby Old Radnor Church sometime in the later Dark Ages. Many Stones show
signs of 'cupmarks' or hollows in their surfaces, together with other workings,
again interpretation remains hypothetical. A high concerntration of stones
together with other ancient sites of all periods can be found around the Hindwell
Valley S of Kinnerton.
Click on sites for details
BRONZE AGE PERIOD
approx 2000 - 800 BC
A migration, or invasion from the continent starting sometime
in the late Neolithic period is thought to have ushered in what is now known
as the Bronze Age - the new arrivals used metal as opposed to the Stone implements
of the Neolithic and the durability of their works is reflected by the wide
scattering of sites and finds from this period. They buried their dead in
Round Barrows of which we have numerous examples in this area. At Aymestrey
a child burial site from this time was descovered in a sand pit and the results
of the excavation are on show in Leominster Folk Museum Another important
site is the Bronze Age cemetery to the S of Milton Cross near Staunton. Here
a group of Barrows, some in alignment straddle the fields. The Hindwell valley
is also rich in Bronze Age sites.
Click on sites for details
IRON AGE
1500 / 800 BC - 43AD
The dating of the Iron Age is, like the other prehistorical
periods, very conjectural. The most visible monuments associated with people
of these times are the Hillforts of which several major sites are to be found
in this area. The hillforts were large-scale constructions involving thousands
of workers digging out the earthworks (many of which would have been originally
much higher or deeper than the remains we see today) and moving huge tonnages
of timber up onto the hilltops to construct pallisades or stockades. Hillforts
suggest a powerful and well developed tribal society. It is beleived that
the Decangi occupied this area and built many of them as the centres of their
society and it is known that they had many community uses as well as military
ones.
Click on sites for details
ROMAN PERIOD
The Roman period of about 400 years, seen from the point of view of any visible
remains in this area, continued to be a turbulent frontier. Most of the sites
are military, with a complex of forts and marching camps around Leintwardine
sited at a strategic river crossing on Watling street, the major communication
line between Roman towns along the western frontier of their empire.
The area has connections with Caractacus, a notable indiginous rebel who was
persued through these parts by the Romans, with Wapley hillfort as a possible
site of his famous last stand.
Many of these sites are only apparent from the air but some earthworks are
still visible. A small museum in Leintwardine Library displays some local
finds. It is open on Tuesday mornings and Fridays
Click on the sites for further information. Click HERE
for date chart
DARK AGES
The Dark ages were another long period of violent tribal skirmishes which
developed in the vacuum left after the Romans. This period also saw the arrival
into and colonisation of the area by the Anglo-Saxons from Scandanavia and
northern Germany. Their lands in this area became part of the kingdom of Mercia.
The major remains from these times are the various Dykes of which Offas is
the largest and most famous. Another interesting line of inquiry is to study
place names, as the English language was brought with these new invaders.
Places ending in 'ton', 'ley', 'hope' and 'ford' are of this origin and generally
descibed the site of a settlement. On the Welsh side of the region most of
the area became part of Maelienydd, a cantref or sub division of the principle
kingdom of Powys.
Click on the sites for further information, pictures and links.
MIDDLE AGES
The Middle ages began with the arrival of the Normans who built
castles throughout the area, most of which can still be seen in the form of
mottes with the occasional ruin. The period of the 'Marcher Lordships' figure
in much of the earlier medieval history of this area. Significant battles
happened at Pilleth and Mortimers Cross and many houses and cottages throughout
the area date from the second half of this period. A new datemap
covers the first part of this period.
Click on the sites for more information, pictures and links
CHURCHES
Most of the churches visible today began their histories in
the early middle ages although some are built inside oval or round churchyards
which are thought to be associated with Anglo-Saxon or Pagan sites and one
occassionaly encounters remains from this earlier period.
The variety and quantity of decorative art and architecture to be seen in
the older churches of this area will fascinate and delight the interested
visitor.
Click on the churches for more information and pictures
