Stow-on-the-Wold, originally called Stow St. Edward or Edwardstow after the
town's patron saint Edward, probably Edward the Martyr, is said to have
originated as an Iron Age fort on this defensive position on a hill. Indeed,
there are many sites of similar forts in the area, and Stone Age and Bronze Age
burial mounds are common throughout the area. It is likely that Maugersbury was
the primary settlement of the parish before Stow was built as a marketplace on
the hilltop nearer to the crossroads, to take advantage of passing trade.
Originally the small settlement was controlled by abbots from the local abbey,
and
