Debroah Overton “The Archaeology and History of Bredon Hill”
Deborah Overton spoke to the Civic Society at St Andrews on 4th February 2025 about the Archaeology and History of Bredon Hill. What a treasure trove of archaeological finds and theories it is!
Of course, most of us are familiar with Bredon Hill. It’s dominant brooding shape forms the background to our lives. To many, it offers a pleasant view. Passing boaters on the Avon virtually circumnavigate it. Lots of us have walked along the ridge and have approached the top from various angles. Some of us have a favourite route to the top. A few of us may have camped in its lee or have stories to tell of Scouts, Guides and Sunday School outings, adventures and romances on its slopes. Some claim never to have lived out of its sight.
And yet, it is a place of secrets. Some dark, some of struggle, some of wealth. Some of hardship.
Deborah Overton, former County Sites and Monuments Record Officer with responsibility for Outreach and Education brought many of these stories with her as she revealed shapes, furrows, dwelling bases, villas, hoards, wells, places of worship, ramparts, fortifications, ancient ways, entrances and burial sites.
By the end of Deborah’s talk, some of us were inwardly speculating whether we ourselves could be descended from the Bredon Hill dwellers of old. Those who fought, won and lost with the elements and with marauders.
As it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, significant ongoing archaeological investigation on Bredon is prevented. The hill has surely many more stories to tell. Deborah brought some of her finds to the meeting – Roman pot shards gleaned from various sites around the hill and Worcester.
How grateful we must be to have daily sight of such an unspoilt, wild and mysterious place! We are truly grateful to Deborah for the glimpses into the past that she was able to share with a meeting of 50 members on the night.
