Shearing Sheep

      The last post of February 17th showed the tracing of Old Oswestry Hill Fort from way up in the sky. [from satellite images]. A closer look is now shown of the western facing gateway.  This is a picture modified from an Oswestry-Welshborders visitor's guide from 2005. The unique and special rectangular structures are shown.

      In addition, in his visitor's guide book to hill forts, Geoffrey Williams discusses these structures as "One mystery which surrounds the re-building of the west entrance is the intended use of the wide spaces on either side..." [p.192]. He gives a number of suggestions for their use including 1) water storage, 2) keeping of cattle, 3) for living in, and 4) for keeping un-invited visitors in [p.192]. Now it is my turn to make the following suggestion...shearing sheep! 

         Interest in this interpretation began many years past dealing with the genealogy of my own Jones family and surname. Most of the prior posts, beginning with Inigo Jones [1573-1652] on December 15th, 2021, has led me to this geographic area in present day Shropshire.   It has taken getting to know the Celts from around 500 B.C. down to my Jones (paternal) and Ewen (maternal) sides who are still living in Kentucky (USA) to this present day. Along the way, much insights and deep appreciations of all the folks who came before and survived this trip along the corridors of time, has bubbled through my mind and heart. 

      The use of these rectangular shaped structures can be aided by images from texts dealing with time much later, but showing the same activities of shearing sheep.

      This image is taken from Peter Spufford's text titled Power and Profit The Merchant In Medieval Europe, p. 327. The same figure is shown in Frances and Joseph's book titled Life In A Medieval Village, p. 65, but a wider view of the original is given here.

      Both give the same reference as coming from the Luttrel Psalter which is located British Library, Ms. Add. 42130, f. 163v. Now put these images in the rectangular spaces shown at Hen Dinas above. You decide if shearing sheep might fit here. More to come.