Old Sodbury - Name and Fort

Name and Fort

The name of the village is recorded in Anglo-Saxon (in the dative case) as Soppanbyrig = "Soppa's fort" and in Domesday Book as Sopeberie. The name may refer to the Iron Age hill fort just to the north-east of the village. The fort, perched on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment, is enclosed on three sides by two parallel earthworks, and is open to the west, commanding an impressive view of the Frome Valley, Severn Vale and the Welsh mountains. The earth walls enclose an area of 11 acres (45,000 m2), and are usually kept mown by the local farmer (the fort is in private hands, but accessible). The fort can be reached by footpath from the A46 road, and through the village from below via the Cotswold Way. Below the fort are a group of ancient pillow mounds which are supposed to have been created by people who hoped rabbits would develop warrens there - providing a source of meat.

The Romans strengthened the fort for use as a camp to support their western frontier. In AD 577 the Saxon army used the fort as a camp before the battle of Dyrham, a few miles to the south.

Bishop Milred (743-755) granted the land at Soppenbyrig to Eanbald, and he to Eastmund, on condition that there was a man in Holy Orders, and worthy of them, in their family, but if otherwise, the lands would pass back to the See of Worcester. In 888 the covenant failed; however, the land was granted to Eadnoth in perpetuity for the rent of 15 shillings, payable to the See of Worcester yearly at Tetbury.

In Edward the Confessor's reign, the manor formed part of the estate of Brictric, Earl of Gloucester.

King Edward IV camped here in 1471 before attacking the army of Margaret of Anjou at the Battle of Tewkesbury.