Wychbury Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wychbury Hill |
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Wychbury Hill looking towards Wychbury Obelisk
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 224 m (735 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Stourbridge, West Midlands, England |
| OS grid | SO920817 |
| Topo map | OS Explorer 219 |
Wychbury Hill is a special hill located near Stourbridge, England. It sits right on the edge of the West Midlands and Worcestershire. This hill is famous for its amazing views and its long history, going back to the Iron Age. It is also home to an ancient hill fort and a tall stone tower called an obelisk.
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Wychbury Hill: A Historic Landmark
Wychbury Hill is part of the Clent Hills group. It is divided between the areas of Hagley and Pedmore. From the top, you can see far across the Severn Valley. On a clear day, you might even spot the Malvern Hills and Clee Hills. The hill's name comes from the Saxon subkingdom of the Hwicce, not from the word "witch."
Ancient History: The Hill Fort
Wychbury Hill is the site of Wychbury Ring. This is an Iron Age hill fort, which means it was a fortified settlement built by people living in the Iron Age. These forts were often used for protection. The hill also has a special grove of 28 ancient yew trees. These trees are very old and have been important to people for a long time.
The Mysterious Temple
On the side of Wychbury Hill, there is a unique building called a folly. It looks like a miniature Greek Doric temple. It is actually a small copy of a part of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, Greece. This temple was built in 1758. It was the first example of Neoclassical architecture in England. Today, the temple is in poor condition and is fenced off from the public. It is a listed building, which means it is protected for its historical importance.
The Obelisk and Its Secrets
The Wychbury Obelisk is a tall, slender stone monument on the hill. In 1999, someone wrote graffiti on the obelisk. The graffiti referred to an unsolved mystery from after World War II. This mystery involved the discovery of a woman's body in a nearby wood. The graffiti was not removed when the obelisk was repaired in 2010.
