Saxon Mercia , Offas Dyke and Celtic origins (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, February 08, 2009, 10:01 (5840 days ago) @ Roger Griffiths

FoD was originally Welsh territory

Steady on, That must be challenged ! :-)

Putting aside the Stone age, Iron age and Bronze age history.

Pre Roman times the Forest was probably under the Celtic Dobunni tribe, although the Silures may have controlled parts. The Dobunni were believed to be centred on what is today Cirencester and had some territory across the Severn. Whilst the Celtic Silures were settled in what is today south east Wales up into Herefordshire. It is said that the Silures were more hostile and generally fought against Roman occupation, whilst the Dobunni are said to have gone along with Roman occupation.

So my conclusion is that the early peoples of the Forest were Celtic in origin and probably a mix of Silure and Dobunni.

After the Romans, came a dark period where control of the Forest is very unclear, but I'm sure the Welsh kingdoms held parts. Then Offa of Mercia set out an earth work boundary - Dyke - to mark out the Saxon lands to the East and Welsh land to the West. Most of the Forest is West of the Dyke, in Saxon Mercia.

A while later and Wessex administered the Forest, then the Normans....

In many respects the Forest is an independent "island" - We bist Vorest !

Ask a true Forester and you might get a "neither Welsh or English" reply.

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>