Limestone Corner

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Limestone Corner
Northumberland, England, UK
Limestone Corner, Hadrian's Wall Footpath - geograph.org.uk - 1583842.jpg
The wall ditch at Limestone Corner
Northumberland UK location map.svg
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Limestone Corner
Location in Northumberland
Coordinates 55°02′19″N2°11′40″W / 55.038722°N 2.194560°W / 55.038722; -2.194560 Coordinates: 55°02′19″N2°11′40″W / 55.038722°N 2.194560°W / 55.038722; -2.194560
Grid reference NY87667159

Limestone Corner is an area of Hadrian's Wall (and associated defences) at its most northerly point, [1] in present-day northern England. It represents the most northerly point of the Roman Empire, outside the two periods during which the Antonine Wall was occupied by the Roman military. [2] Other notable features at Limestone Corner are the wall ditch at this point, which was never completely excavated, a Roman camp and the site of Milecastle 30. Also present is a trig point. [3] The B6318 Military Road also runs through Limestone Corner, [4] as does the Military Way, serving Milecastle 30. The Military Way is visible on the ground at this point, the most eastern point where this is the case. [3]

Contents

The name Limestone Corner is not an official geographical name for the area and does not appear on official maps; the hill on which it stands is known as Teppermoor Hill. 'Limestone Corner' has become accepted through extensive usage. [5]

Geology

The layout of structures at Limestone Corner Limestone Corner.png
The layout of structures at Limestone Corner

Despite the name, the rock in the area is not actually limestone; it is volcanic quartz-dolerite whinstone. Teppermoor Hill, on which Limestone Corner stands, is the eastern outlier of the Whin Sill. [5]

Moving west along the escarpment, a glacial surface drift of boulder clay begins to overlay the whinstone. To the east, the whinstone lies just below the current turf line approximately as far as Turret 29A. [5]

Excavated stones left in and around the wall ditch The north defensive ditch of Hadrian's Wall at Limestone Corner (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1075150.jpg
Excavated stones left in and around the wall ditch

Wall ditch

The wall ditch at this point was not completed when first cut. At a point due north of the trig point, only a small amount of topsoil has been removed. A short distance west of this point, significant whinstone blocks remain in the ditch, with others deposited on its northern lip. One large rock provides clues to the methods used by the Legionary engineers to cut the rock. Holes have been drilled (or cut) into a vein of quartz on the rock's upper surface. Wedges were then hammered into the holes to allow the rocks to cleave along the weakness provided by the quartz vein. Two iron wedges were discovered within the wall core at Milecastle 26, consisting of steel-faced tips, and soft heads for hammering. [3] It has also been suggested that wooden wedges were used. After driving the wedges into the hole, water was poured onto the wedges, causing expansion. [6]

No conclusive reason has emerged as to the incomplete nature of the wall ditch at this point. It is possible that the rock became too hard at this point, though the vallum was cut (presumably at a later date) through the same stone. [3]

The unfinished section has provided evidence that this section of the ditch was completed from west to east, whereas other exposures have shown work commencing in the other direction. [7]

Vallum

The vallum at this point is relatively complete. The vallum ditch has been successfully cut through the same rock (for a distance of about 1 mile (1.6 km)) as that through which the wall ditch passes. Secondary crossings are apparent at 41 metres (45 yd) intervals, though many are incomplete. The marginal mound is apparent in this area, containing large quantities of whinstone, as do both mounds. There are occasional large whinstone rocks present on the north and south berms, having been cut from the vallum ditch and deposited whole. [3]

Milecastle 30

Limestone Corner marks the site of Milecastle 30.

Site of Roman camp (Site of the) Roman Camp south of Limestone Corner - geograph.org.uk - 1205934.jpg
Site of Roman camp

Roman camp

The remains of a Roman camp (itself also referred to as Limestone Corner) are located at the highest point of the hill on which Limestone Corner is situated. This is 150 metres (160 yd) due south of the bend on the B6318 Military Road. It is almost square, measuring around 50 metres (160 ft) on each side, and enclosing an area of around 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres). Although a farmstead (now consisting only of a series of banks) was later built within the camp, the rampart, ditch, all four gateways (one in the middle of each side) and traverses remain visible. [3]

The foundations of several interior buildings are present, which may point to the camp being occupied for more than a single campaign season. [1]

The camp was excavated in 1912. Pottery dating to the second century was found, along with pottery dating to the late third or early fourth century. [3]

Location: 55°02′18″N2°11′34″W / 55.038321°N 2.192696°W / 55.038321; -2.192696 (Limestone Corner Roman Camp)

Limestone Bank trig pillar Trig pillar at Limestone Corner - geograph.org.uk - 1017671.jpg
Limestone Bank trig pillar

Trig point

The trig point at Limestone Corner is of the Pillar type. It has identification number TP4416, and is known as Limestone Bank. Limestone Bank trig pillar was one of the 2173 triangulation pillars that constituted what was known as the Secondary Network. [8] These pillars filled in gaps between the Primary Stations, erected during the Retriangulation of Great Britain. It is no longer in use. [9]

The associated Flush Bracket has identification number S6659. [8] Flush brackets were fixed to walls at 1 mile (1.6 km) intervals between Fundamental Benchmarks, and also on trig pillars. They consist of a metal plate with a unique number. There is a horizontal mark with three vertical marks pointing towards it from below (the same mark as was carved into walls for lower order benchmarks). [9]

Location: 55°02′18″N2°11′34″W / 55.038321°N 2.192696°W / 55.038321; -2.192696 (Limestone Bank trig pillar)

Public access

Access to Hadrian's Wall, the wall ditch, and the trig pillar is only via the Hadrian's Wall Path. There is no access from the B6318 Military Road. The nearest parking is at Brocolitia Roman fort (also known as Carrawburgh) 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) to the west, from where the Hadrian's Wall Path can be accessed.

The vallum and Roman camp are on private land, as is Milecastle 30, though it is possible to view the site of the milecastle from the Hadrian's Wall Path.

Related Research Articles

Carrawburgh Settlement in Northumberland, England

Carrawburgh is a settlement in Northumberland. In Roman times, it was the site of a 3+1⁄2-acre (1.5 ha) auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall called Brocolitia, Procolita, or Brocolita. This name is probably based on the Celtic name for the place, and one possible translation put forward is 'badger holes'. The fort there was a mile or so west of the Wall's northernmost point at Limestone Corner, and just over a mile west of the nearest milecastle, Milecastle 30. The fort either used the Wall itself as its northern rampart, or was built parallel to it but detached. It certainly postdates both the Wall and the vallum.

Vallum (Hadrians Wall)

The Vallum is a huge earthwork associated with Hadrian's Wall in England. Unique on any Roman frontier, it runs practically from coast to coast to the south of the wall.

Milecastle 18

Milecastle 18 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. It is located to the west of the settlement of East Wallhouses in Northumberland and is visible as a platform in the ground. The milecastle is of a unique construction, having a gateway associated with builders of the Legio II Augusta and a layout typical of the Legio VI Victrix or Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Historians have suggested that it may have been begun by men of one legion and finished by those of another. One of Milecastle 18's associated turrets shows evidence of being used as a workshop, possibly for the repair of shoes.

Hadrians Wall Defensive fortification in Roman Britain

Hadrian's Wall, also known as the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, is a former defensive fortification of the Roman province of Britannia, begun in AD 122 in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. Running "from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west", the Wall covered the whole width of the island. In addition to the wall's defensive military role, its gates may have been customs posts.

Milecastle 17

Milecastle 17 (Welton/Whittledean) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. The milecastle is located near to the Whittle Dene reservoirs and is visible as a platform in the ground. Just 174m west of the milecastle is a distinct change in wall construction, indicating that it may have formed a boundary between different legions. The existence of the milecastle has been known since at least 1732 and excavations have produced numerous finds and evidence of post-Roman occupation. The associated turrets both lie beneath the B3618 Military Road. A stone found near the milecastle is the only known written record of the name of Gaius Julius Marcus, a Roman Governor of Britain whose name has been erased from other inscriptions possibly because he fell out of favour with Emperor Caracalla.

Milecastle 19

Milecastle 19 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Sited just to the east of the hamlet of Matfen Piers, the milecastle is today covered by the B6318 Military Road. The milecastle is notable for the discovery of an altar by Eric Birley in the 1930s. An inscription on the altar is one of the few dedications to a mother goddess found in Roman Britain, and was made by members of the First Cohort of Varduli from northern Spain. The presence of the Vardulians at this milecastle has led to debate amongst archaeologists over the origins of troops used to garrison the wall. A smaller altar was found at one of the two associated turrets.

Milecastle 22

Milecastle 22 (Portgate) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low, turf covered platform just east of the Portgate roundabout. The platform is 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) on the east side, reducing to only a parch mark on the west side.

Milecastle 23

Milecastle 23 (Stanley) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low, grass covered platform with traces of an external ditch. It is located to the south of the B6318 Military Road around 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of its junction with the A68.

Milecastle 24

Milecastle 24 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform, and are located to the south of the B6318 Military Road around 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of its junction with the A68.

Milecastle 25

Milecastle 25 (Codlawhill) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform, and are located to the south of the B6318 Military Road, nearly 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the west of its junction with the A68.

Milecastle 26

Milecastle 26 (Planetrees) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its position is slightly to the south of, but mostly covered by the B6318 Military Road., and it is located around 700 metres (0.43 mi) east of the B6318 Military Road's junction with the A6079. No visible traces exist currently. The dimensions are the same as Milecastles 23, 24, and 25.

Milecastle 29

Milecastle 29 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a mutilated earth platform accentuated by deep robber-trenches around all sides, and are located beside the B6318 Military Road. Like Milecastles 9, 23, 25, and 51, a ditch has been identified around the Milecastle, and is still visible to a small extent. It has been postulated that this was as a result of the need for drainage on the site.

Milecastle 30

Milecastle 30 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as an outward-facing scarp with a maximum height of 0.8 metres (2.6 ft). Masonry from the east wall remains in situ. The remaining stretch is 3.1 metres (10 ft) in length by 2.25 metres (7.4 ft) thick, and survives to a height of 0.6 metres (2.0 ft). It is located at the western part of Limestone Corner, just off the B6318 Military Road.

Milecastle 31

Milecastle 31 (Carrawburgh) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a turf covered platform beside the B6318 Military Road, just to the east of Carrawburgh fort.

Milecastle 32

Milecastle 32 (Carraw) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as earthworks and with no exposed masonry. The layout of the milecastle walls is defined by robber trenches (to a maximum depth of 0.3 metres. The north wall is beneath a modern wall.

Milecastle 33

Milecastle 33 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall, one of a series of small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along the length of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern England.

Milecastle 34

Milecastle 34 (Grindon) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. There are no visible remains, but the site is within a small, tree-filled, walled enclosure located around 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) east of Sewingshields farm.

Milecastle 46

Milecastle 46 (Carvoran) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.

Milecastle 50TW

Milecastle 50TW was a milecastle on the Turf Wall section of Hadrian's Wall. The milecastle is located close to the Birdoswald Roman Fort and is unique in that it was not replaced by a stone milecastle when the turf wall was upgraded to stone, the replacement wall instead running some 200m to the north. The milecastle was partially demolished by the Romans after it was abandoned. The milecastle was excavated in 1934 and several Roman rubbish pits discovered. The remains of the two turrets associated with this milecastle have also been located. As the turf wall lies some distance from the stone wall, the sites are not accessible from the Hadrian's Wall Path.

Milecastle 70

Milecastle 70 (Braelees) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.

References

  1. 1 2 Limestone Corner Temporary Marching Camp, Roman-Britain.org (Roman Britain Organisation), archived from the original on 26 January 2012, retrieved 26 February 2012
  2. ↑ "Frontiers of the Roman Empire", World Heritage List, UNESCO, retrieved 26 February 2012
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition - Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 213, 214, ISBN   0-901082-65-1
  4. ↑ OL43: Hadrian’s Wall (Map). 1:25 000. OS Explorer Map. Cartography by Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey. 9 November 2009. ISBN   978-0-319-24109-7. OL43.
  5. 1 2 3 Wilmott, Tony, ed. (15 November 2009), "Chapter 4. The Linear Elements of the Hadrian's Wall Complex: Four Investigations, 1983–2000", Hadrian’s Wall: Archaeological Research by English Heritage 1976-2000, English Heritage, p. 80, ISBN   978-1-905624-71-3
  6. ↑ Davies, Hunter (2000), A Walk Along the Wall, Orion Books Ltd, p. 92, ISBN   0-7528-3689-7
  7. ↑ Wilmott, Tony, ed. (15 November 2009), "Chapter 4. The Linear Elements of the Hadrian's Wall Complex: Four Investigations, 1983–2000", Hadrian’s Wall: Archaeological Research by English Heritage 1976-2000, English Heritage, p. 74, ISBN   978-1-905624-71-3
  8. 1 2 "UK Trig Points" . Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  9. 1 2 "UK Trig Point Classification" . Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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