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| In the beginning was the Roman fort
on Primrose Hill at Oversley the precursor to the Roman town of
Alcester (probably 'Alauna'). The Roman invaders of 43 A.D. had to build Ryknield Street
first: between Bourton-on-Water and the fort of Wall, near Lichfield: a half-way-house
fort was necessary for the troops. Primrose Hill, overlooking the rivers Alne and Arrow
and the junction of Ryknield Street and the Salt Way, was an admirable site. No-one has excavated this site but an aerial photograph has picked out the defensive ditch which encloses the mediaeval farm of Lower Oversley Lodge. |
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| That it is a Roman field-work there
is little doubt, for the shape is rectangular and its corners are of playing-card
character - typical of Roman marching forts. The date is a matter of surmise but probably
around or after 60 A.D. A 'dig' would, of course be needed to confirm this. The fort is thought not to have had a very long history: what archaeologists think is that a new fort was built in the valley and that Roman Alcester grew up round it. Indications have come to light but, so far, no definite site |
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