Ossulstone
Ossulstone was an ancient Hundred in the south east of the county of Middlesex, England.[1] Its area has been entirely absorbed by the growth of London; and now corresponds to the part of Inner London that is north of the River Thames and, from Outer London, parts of the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Haringey and Hounslow.
History and Geography
It was named after "Oswald's Stone" or "Oswulf's Stone", an unmarked pre-Roman monolith which was situated at Tyburn (the modern-day junction of the Edgware Road with Bayswater Road). It is possible that this stone might have been named after a Middle Saxon king and it is likely that early assemblies or "moots" of the Middle Saxon people were organised here. Oswald's Stone was earthed over in 1819, but dug up again three years later because of its presumed historical significance. Later in the 19th century it was to be found leaning against Marble Arch following its move. In 1869, shortly after an archaeological journal published an article about it, the stone disappeared and it has not been identified since.[2]
The Ossulstone Hundred was bounded on all sides by rivers. To the south it bordered the River Thames, to the east it bordered the River Lea and to the north and west it was bordered by the River Brent. The Hundred did not include the City of London, which it surrounded to the west, north and east.[3] Additionally, Westminster formed an independent liberty.
References
- ↑ British History Online - Hundreds of Middlesex
- ↑ Ossulstone Hundred, A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 1-5 accessed: 30 May 2007
- ↑ British History Online - Divisions of Ossulstone hundred
