Romans & Saxons

Iron Age days in South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire has its roots firmly established in the Celtic, Roman and Saxon elements of Britain’s past. Ancient graves and artefacts are frequently discovered in the area and even television’s Time Team made a major discovery here.

It is thought that Wittenham Clumps (also known as Sinodun Hill), near Little Wittenham is among the oldest clump of trees in the country. It is believed that an Iron Age hill fort was sited here and a similar fort has been found at Bozedown, near Whitchurch.

When TV’s Time Team visited Sinodun Hill, they discovered the remains of a Romano-British house with mosaic floors and painted wall plaster. They also unearthed an Iron Age cobbled floor, together with postholes that could have been part of a structure. Around 300 Iron Age rubbish pits have been found in the valley below the hill.

The site of a Saxon cathedral built by St Birinus can be found in Dorchester. The Dorchester Abbey now stands on the original site and has been a place of worship for over 1300 years. A stained glass window and painted frescos can be seen inside the Abbey.

Wallingford is mainly a Saxon town, with a Saxon castle and earthworks. The ruins are still visible today and the early street layout has remained largely unchanged.

Project Timescape is a new education and visitor centre at the base of the Wittenham Clumps. Run by the Northmoor Trust it is dedicated to South Oxfordshire’s changing landscape - past, present and future - and focuses on the history of local archaeology.