Although a Bronze Age and Iron Age hillfort, Y Breiddin was also occupied during the Roman period. It is believed the Iron Age defences were built around 300BC.
Recently cleared of extensive forestry, the hillfort has been subject to a number of excavations from the 1930s on.
The fort occupies a ridge running south-west to north-east. Much of the south-west end has, however, been forested or quarried away and the readily visible position is only about half of the original site and is to be seen from the entrance north-eastwards.
You can still see the defences today, consisting of a strong stone inner bank, originally 5-6m wide, with a weaker outer bank.
At the entrance, the two banks join together on either side of a passage. A further strong outer rampart with a visible outer ditch runs north-east from the entrance at the foot of the slope.
Excavations have shown that the fort contained timber roundhouses, mainly 5-7m in diameter, as well as square and rectangular granaries. Iron Age finds indicated various activities including spinning and weaving, leather, metal and wood work.
A former pond within the fort was excavated the wet conditions had ensured the preservation of wooden objects which included a wooden bowl and sword. The sword could have been a toy, a weaving tool, or a ritual object.
Evidence suggests that the hillfort was also defended in Bronze Age times.
Directions: Take A458/A483 from Welshpool towards Oswestry. About 1.1 km beyond northern bypass roundabout, take the A458 right towards Shrewsbury. At Trewern, turn left by the phone box and, at T-junction after 2.9km, turn right. Continue through the quarry and, after 2.1km, take the forestry track on the right signposted Rodneys Column. There is limited parking available on the left before the gate. Take the path on foot. After 1.2km, fork right and continue to top. The sites outer defence is visible on the right beyond the gate. Walking shoes advisable in wet weather.
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your comments
Frances McFiren from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, USA
Wonderful! Love the history of Wales, and the old (and newer) photos.
Mon Oct 26 20:09:12 2009
Jayden Reynolds,Middletown
I think the photo you are using is of Middletown Quarry.
Mon Oct 12 09:27:50 2009
Simon from Llandrinio
Done It!!! Finally went up to Rodney's Pillar - fantastic, cold, windyday after the 2008 floods - views fantastic! Oh and by the way, it is the picture of the Quarry not the Hill Fort!
Thu Jan 22 15:08:55 2009
Mel Lewis, Middletown
I think the photo you are using is of Middletown Quarry ???.
Wed Oct 1 10:41:53 2008
Marilyn, Kinsey from California
Just learned of the area my great, great grandfather came from in mid Wales. Your site gives me more information about the area. I shall visit it often.Thanks,
Wed Oct 3 09:24:35 2007
NICK FROM TELFORD
it was a lovely walk on a hot july afternoon. you don't realise how large rodneys column is until you're right under it at the summit - fantastic views.
quite steep going back down though.
Fri Jul 14 09:19:06 2006
Molly & Simon Harrison from Llandrinio
Having moved to the area in July 2004, we have not yet climbed to Rodney's Pillar (even though we are both ardent walkers), but have made the ascent several times up Middletown, the mountain lying to the south east. This commands fantastic views over the Breidden forests and towards Snowdonia. Well worth the 20 minutes climb.
Fri Dec 2 20:20:19 2005
Larry from W Australia
I was born in Meifod in 1954. Ten years ago I spent two years in the Powys region. I climbed many hills having an empathy with stone circles and resiudal wilderness, especially after spening so much time in the Australian wilderness areas. I climbed Breiddin at least three times. It has a great view of the Meifod Valley and its hillforts and also across to Oswestry and the Wrekin. I went to the top to beneath the monument from the Gentlemen of Montgomery once in the middle of a hot balmy day, with the fresh wind, the prayerful silence and imagined the lost oak forest that had been cut to make Rodney's fleet. I took an adventurous rope down on the quarry side and survived.
Wed Feb 11 02:46:54 2004
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