Crouch Hill (The name of the hill comes from the Celtic "
crug", meaning hill.) is a partly artificial hill one mile to the south-west of Banbury Church in
Banbury
Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census.
Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshir ...
,
Oxfordshire, in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. The top of the hill, which is a cone in shape, is the artificial part, as examined by antiquarian digs in the 19th century.
Alfred Beesley concluded that the purpose of the hill was thus to form a signalling platform with other Saxon encampments in the area, given that it afforded a view above most of Banbury to settlements such as
Rainsborough and
Arberry Hill (both in
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by
two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...
).
At the foot of Crouch Hill used to run Banbury Lane, a road that followed the route of an old
trackway
Historic roads (historic trails in USA and Canada) are paths or routes that have historical importance due to their use over a period of time. Examples exist from prehistoric times until the early 20th century. They include ancient trackways ...
passing
Rollrich and
Tadmarton through Banbury to
Northampton. Crossing it used to be a road named Saltway, which actually was a
salt way, proceeding to the south-west in the direction of Oxford and London. It was around the junction of these two roads that Banbury town actually grew in the first place.
Crouch Hill was used as an encampment by
William Waller
Sir William Waller JP (c. 159719 September 1668) was an English soldier and politician, who commanded Parliamentarian armies during the First English Civil War, before relinquishing his commission under the 1645 Self-denying Ordinance.
...
in 1644 during the siege of
Banbury Castle. ''Crouch Hill'' , a poem by Philip Rusher who was a resident of the Town in the 18th and 19th centuries, recounts the view from Crouch Hill of the churches in the town:
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References
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Hills of Oxfordshire
Artificial hills
Banbury
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