Milecastle 48
Milecastle 48 | |
---|---|
Type | Milecastle |
Place in the Roman world | |
Province | Britannia |
Structure | |
— Stone structure — | |
Size and area | 18.5 m × 21.3 m (0.04 ha) |
Location | |
Coordinates | 54°59′20″N 2°34′24″W / 54.988991°N 2.573425°W |
County | Cumbria |
Country | England |
Reference | |
UK-OSNG reference | NY6340666195 |
Milecastle 48 (Poltross Burn), is a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall (grid reference NY6340666195). Its remains lie near the village of Gilsland in Cumbria where it was historically known as "The King's Stables", owing to the well-preserved interior walls. Unusually a substantial section of stone stairs has survived within the milecastle. The two turrets associated with this milecastle have also survived as above-ground masonry.
Description
Milecastle 48 is just outside the village of Gilsland in Cumbria, immediately adjacent to the Tyne Valley railway line on its south side (grid reference NY6340666195).[1] It had been known locally as "The King's Stables"[2] for over 100 years, but recently the heritage industry has begun to call it Poltross Burn Milecastle, which is how it is now signposted. The monument is currently in the care of English Heritage.
The milecastle measures 18.5 metres east to west by 21.3 metres north to south, substantially larger than many other milecastles.
A notable feature of this milecastle is the survival of a substantial part of the flight of stairs giving access to the ramparts of Hadrian's Wall in the north-east corner, allowing a wall-walk height of 3.6m to be projected and suggesting a height for the curtain wall (including parapet) of around 4.6m.
The Stanegate Roman road, which preceded Hadrian's Wall, crossed the Poltross Burn a few hundred yards to the south of Milecastle 48; part of its route can be seen descending a field to the river's edge. The minor Stanegate fort of Throp stood on top of the ridge just to the southwest of Milecastle 48,[4] but it is not visible on the ground.
Excavations
Milecastle 48 was excavated in 1886 by R. S. Ferguson; between 1909 and 1911 by J. P. Gibson and F. G. Simpson; and between 1965 and 1966 by D. Charlesworth.[1]
The excavations uncovered a range of features including the gateways of the milecastle.[1] The lower courses of the flight of steps were found in the northeast corner, and an oven was found in the northwest angle.[1] Flanking the central space of the milecastle stood long barrack blocks, which are believed to have had more than one phase of construction.[1]
Associated turrets
Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated
Turret 48A
Turret 48A (Willowford East) (grid reference NY6296266297) is situated on a river terrace on the south bank of the River Irthing. It was excavated in 1923.[5] It measures approximately 4.1 metres across.[5] The north wall has a maximum height of 1.3 metres, the east wall 7 courses, the west wall 5 courses and the south wall 6 courses high.[5] The doorway was situated in the southwest wall, and several hearths and evidence of bronze and ironworking were found in the interior.[5] The site was cleared and partially rebuilt in 1951/2, and the remains are visible as consolidated masonry.[5]
Turret 48B
Turret 48B (Willowford West) (grid reference NY62526650) is situated on the south bank of the River Irthing immediately east of Willowford Farm. The turret was excavated in 1923.[6] The remains are visible as consolidated masonry.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e MILECASTLE 48, Pastscape, retrieved 4 December 2013
- ^ Gibson, J.P. & Simpson, F.G. 1911. "The Milecastle on the Wall of Hadrian at the Poltross Burn"; Trans. CWAAS XI (New Series) Art XXIII pp390–461
- ^ a b Bird, W.G. 1913. Gilsland and Neighbourhood; Gregg, Gilsland
- ^ English Heritage Archaeological Map of Hadrian's Wall (2010)
- ^ a b c d e TURRET 48A, Pastscape, retrieved 4 December 2013
- ^ a b TURRET 48B, Pastscape, retrieved 4 December 2013
External links
- Poltross Burn Milecastle, English Heritage
- Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge, English Heritage