Featherwood Roman Camps
| Featherwood Roman Camps | |
|
Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Featherwood East Roman Camp | |
| Type: | Roman fort |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NT816057 |
| Location: | 55°20’42"N, 2°17’30"W |
| History | |
| Built 1st century AD | |
| Information | |
Featherwood Roman Camps are neighbouring archaeological sites in Northumberland, a mile north of Featherwood and about three miles east of Byrness.
These are the visible remains of two Roman camps, built near the Roman Dere Street, and each is a scheduled monument.[1][2]
Description
The two camps, about 600 yards apart, built on either side of Dere Street: Dere Street was a Roman road in use between AD 78 and AD 211 running from Eboracum (York) towards the Firth of Forth. The camps date from the 1st century AD. They are thought to have been used by soldiers advancing northwards, and by smaller groups employed in routine maintenance. Chew Green and Bremenium, nearby Roman encampments on Dere Street, lie to the north and south.[1][2][3]
Featherwood East Roman Camp
The camp, at NT82020563, is on a spur of land, gently sloping to the south. The remains survive to a height of 18 inches in places. It is almost square, with rounded corners; it measures about 1,300 feet west to east by 1,312 feet north to south, enclosing 39 acres. There is a rampart about 12 feet wide, with an external ditch. On each side there is a gateway 16 feet wide: they are defended by external earthworks.[1][4]
Featherwood West Roman Camp
The camp, at NT81330582, is on a south-facing slope near the summit of Foulplay Head, with good views to the north-east, east and south. Because of the terrain, it has an irregular, trapezoidal shape, with the usual rounded corners, measuring 1,600 feet north to south by 1,200 feet west to east, enclosing 38½ acres. There is a rampart up to 23 feet wide, with an external ditch visible in places. There are five gateways, the additional gateway being on the north-west side; they are defended by external earthworks.[2][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Heritage List 1008881: Roman camp NNE of Featherwood (Historic England)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Heritage List 1008882: Roman camp north of Featherwood (Scheduled ancient monument entry)
- ↑ "Dere Street" Heritage Paths. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Featherwood Camps" Roman Britain
