Roman Cumbria: AD 43-410
Named either Galava or Glanoventa, the fort was on the Roman road linking the Eden Valley with Ravenglass on the West Coast.
Birdoswald Roman Fort - Banna.
Birdoswald Fort was built alongside Hadrian's Wall in a stategic position high above the Irthing Gorge. Construction was completed by the end of the reign of Emperor Hadrian in AD 138 and was garrisoned by more than 800 men until the end of the 4th century. These troops were brought over from the countries now known as Romania and Bulgaria.
The Granaries at Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall near Gilsland, Cumbria.
The Northern Tower at East Gate, Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria.
South Gate, Birdoswald Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria.
Construction of the fort was completed by the end of the reign of Emperor Hadrian in AD 138 and was garrisoned by more than 800 men until the end of the 4th century.
Birdoswald Farmhouse beside Birdoswald Roman Fort 'Banna', near Gilsland in Cumbria.
Much of the building as seen today was was built by Henry Norman in 1858 around the remains of a 15-16th century farmhouse. Henry Norman was an antiquerian and chose to start excavating the foundations of the fort as part of his garden landscaping.
Hadrian's Wall, Birdoswald near Gilsland in Cumbria.
The section of wall near to Birdoswald Roman Fort is the longest continuous stretch of wall visible today.
Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of the 73 mile long wall from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness on Solway on the west coast to mark the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. This incredible feat of engineering with 80 milecastles, about 160 turrets and 17 large forts took 15,000 men from the British legions of York, Chester and South Wales about 6 years to build. In places the wall itself reached a height of 6 metres with a depth of 3 metres.
Over the centuries much of the neatly cut stone was removed from the wall for local building projects.
In 1987 Hadrian's Wall was declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire’.
Harrow's Scar: Milecastle 49 on Hadrian's Wall near Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria.
Piper Sike Turret 51A, Hadrian's Wall near Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria.
A defensive position abutting the structure of Hadrian's Wall, built just after 122 AD. Excavations showed an inner platform against the north wall which was probably a living space. Remains of cooking hearths and rubbish deposits were found in several places about the turret interior. The turret was probably only used for brief time; by the 2nd century it was abandoned. The walls now stand to an average height of 0.8 metres. The two turrets are very similar in design, and similar in how much of the structures remain.
Maia Roman heritage signpost at Bowness on Solway, Cumbria.
This signpost marks the site of the large Roman fort, Maia which was the western terminus of the 73 mile (80 Roman mile) Hadrian's Wall which extended to Wallsend on Tyne on the East Coast. The stonework from the wall and fort was used in the building of the church and local houses. The scottish shores can be seen on the far side of the Solway Firth.
This spot also marks one end of the 84 mile Hadrian's Wall National Trail.
Brocavvm Roman Fort at Brougham, Penrith. This fort was built by Legion V111 in 76AD to defend the crossing point of the rivers Lowther and Eamont. The fort would have been manned by more than 1,000 men. A small settlement developed nearby to serve the fort and take advantage of passing trade between Carlisle and the port at Ravenglass.
The course of the old Roman Road over Crosby Ravensworth Fell.
Milefortlet 21 at Crosscanonby near Maryport on the coast of West Cumbria.
One of several west coast milefortlets that extended the defences of Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria.
Access is via a good footpath from the bottom of Crosscanonby Lane.
Ancient and Modern: Hadrian's Wall, Gilsland in Cumbria.
Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of the 73 mile long wall from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness on Solway on the west coast to mark the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. This incredible feat of engineering with 80 milecastles, about 160 turrets and 17 large forts took 15,000 men about 6 years to build.
Willowford East Turret 48A, Hadrian's Wall, Gilsland in Cumbria.
Castle Folds Romano British Settlement on Great Asby Scar
is one of the best preserved Romano-British defended stone hut circle settlements and medieval shielings in the UK.
Castle Folds Romano British Settlement on Great Asby Scar
is one of the best preserved Romano-British defended stone hut circle settlements and medieval shielings in the UK.
Castle Folds Romano British Settlement on Great Asby Scar
is one of the best preserved Romano-British defended stone hut circle settlements and medieval shielings in the UK.
Hardknott Roman Fort - 'Mediobogdum' on Hardknott Pass near Eskdale in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Hardknott Fort is one of the most remote and dramatically sited Roman forts in Britain. This small fort enjoyed a commanding position over Eskdale and the Roman road to Ravenglass.
Angle Tower, Hardknott Roman Fort ('Mediobogdum') on Hardknott Pass near Eskdale in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Hardknott Fort is one of the most remote and dramatically sitThis small fort enjoyed a commanding position over Eskdale and the Roman road to Ravenglass.
The Bath House at Hardknott Roman Fort 'Mediobogdum'. on Hardknott Pass near Eskdale in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Hardknott Fort is one of the most remote and dramatically sited Roman forts in Britain.
Cycling along Fairmile Road, the course of a Roman road above the River Lune at Howgill, Sedbergh.
Fairmile Road, the course of a Roman road above the River Lune, at Howgill near Sedbergh.
Holy Well, Humphrey Head, Allithwaite, Cumbria.
Now just a trickle dripping out from a pipe, the waters from this ancient well were drunk by lead miners from Roman times to remove the poisins from their bodies. In his 'Churches, Castles, and Ancient Halls of North Lancashire', W.O. Roper writes, “One other appendage to the Priory of Cartmel should be mentioned, and that is the well known as the Holy Well. On the sea-shore, close under the towering cliffs of Humphrey Head, and almost immediately below the natural arch of rock which leads to the recess known as the Fairy Chapel, bubbles the well to which in former days the Priors journeyed in state from their neighbouring Priory, and to which in more recent times large numbers of people resorted, hoping to derive benefit from its medicinal qualities.”
The circular perimeter of this ancient farmstead at Hutton Roof can be seen, with two rows of rocks which had been the foundation for the walls. Buildings in the settlement would probably have had a stone base and thatched roof. A small bronze bull’s head, probably dating from the Roman period has been found.
The Romano-British 'Tongue House Settlement' in the Kentmere Valley, Cumbria.
The rocky round mounds in the field to the side of Tongue House and below Tongue Scar are the remains of a settlement built by Bronze Age farmers over 4,000 years ago when the valley would have been densely forested.
The Romano-British 'Tongue House Settlement' in the Kentmere Valley, Cumbria.
The rocky round mounds in the field to the side of Tongue House and below Tongue Scar are the remains of an ancient settlement. Within this once walled enclosure there were ten stone based circular huts. This photo shows the foundations of a small hut that had been built on a raised platform. A larger one can be seen behind it.
The Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport in West Cumbria.
The museum occupies the 1885 Naval Battery building which was used for gun training of the Royal Navy Artillery Reserve. The building was later used by the Territorial Army until 1966.
Admission charge
The Roman Milestone at Middleton in 2010 before it was moved into the churchyard.
The milestone bears the inscription, "MP LIII" possibly meaning 53 miles to Carlisle. Below it reads, "SOLO ERVTVM/RESTITVIT/GVL MOORE/AN MDCCCXXXVI"" added by the historian, Dr Lingard, to commemorate its discovery and re-erection in this field by W. Moore.
The Roman Milestone in its new position in the churchyard of the Holy Ghost Church at Middleton in the Lune Valley, Cumbria.
The milestone bears the inscription, "MP LIII" possibly meaning 53 miles to Carlisle. Below it reads, "SOLO ERVTVM/RESTITVIT/GVL MOORE/AN MDCCCXXXVI"" added by the historian, Dr Lingard, to commemorate its discovery and re-erection in a neighbouring field by W. Moore.
Roman Moresby: Looking out from the churchyard of St Bridgets Church to the site of the Roman fort, Gabrosentum above the Solway Coast of West Cumbria..
A southerly view from the England Coastal Path towards Parton, Whitehaven and St Bees Head on the west coast of Cumbria.
St Bridget's Church and the site of the Gabrosentum Roman Fort can be seen to the left of the photograph.
A Roman design pebble mosaic by Maggie Howarth featuring a Roman ship overlooking the Ravenglass Estuary in West Cumbria. Ravenglass was a 2nd century Roman settlement known as Glannaventa.
Glannoventa Roman Heritage Signpost at Ravenglass in the Lake District National Park, West Cumbria.
This signpost marks the site of the large Roman fort, Glannoventa which was the most southerly point of the Cumbrian coastal defence system and is the western extremity of the Roman Frontier World Heritage Site.
Vistors reading the information panel for the Roman Bath House known as Walls Castle at Ravenglass in West Cumbria.
This bath house, established in AD 130, stands next to the site of the large Roman fort, Glannoventa which was the most southerly point of the Cumbrian coastal defence system and is the western extremity of the Roman Frontier World Heritage Site. There are no longer any signs of the fort, but the bath house is one of the largest surviving Roman structures in England, with walls almost 4 metres high. At least two rooms contained under-floor heating systems. The bath house would have been used both by Roman soldiers and civilians who lived in the nearby settlement.
Walls Castle Roman Bath House at Ravenglass in West Cumbria.
With walls almost 4 metres high, this bath house, established in AD 130 is one of the largest surviving Roman structures in England,
Burrow Walls Roman Fort at Seaton near Workington on the West Cumbria Coast.
There were two forts on this site, the first (possibly called 'Maggis') was built in the 2nd century as part of a line of forts and watch-towers along the north-western coastline of Cumbria from Bowness-on-Solway.
The walls are thought to have belonged to a medieval hall, constructed from the Roman stones.
The remains of a medieval hall on the site of Burrow Walls Roman Fort at Seaton near Workington in Cumbria.
The hall is believed to have been constructed of stone from the Roman Fort.
All that is to be seen of Low Borrowbridge Roman Fort at Tebay is a flat turf-covered platform which now serves as a farmer's field. The upper field wall shown in this photograph stands on top of the eastern bank of the fort.
A 3rd century Roman milestone close to the A66 in between Temple Sowerby and Kirkby Thore in the Eden Valley of Cumbria. The A66 follows the line of the Roman Road from Brougham to York.
