| Milecastle 52 | |
|---|---|
 Lane passing the site of Milecastle 52 at Bankshead | |
  Location within Cumbria | |
| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°58′37″N2°39′31″W / 54.976967°N 2.658574°W Coordinates: 54°58′37″N2°39′31″W / 54.976967°N 2.658574°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NY57946490 |
Milecastle 52 (Bankshead) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall (grid reference NY57946490 ).
Milecastle 52 is west of Birdoswald fort. It lies 1484 metres west of Milecastle 51 and 1520 metres east of Milecastle 53. The site is occupied by Bankshead House and garden. [1] There is no trace of the milecastle visible. [1]
Milecastle 52 was excavated in 1934. [1] Although not now visible, excavation showed that it measures 27.5 m east to west by 23.4 m north to south and that it has Type III gateways. The stone milecastle replaced its underlying predecessor, Milecastle 52TW on the Turf Wall.
In 1808 two altars to the local deity Cocidius were discovered here. [1] One of the altars was dedicated by soldiers of the Twentieth Legion in the years 262-6. [1] In 1862 a broken slab was found with the name of Hadrian. [1]
Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 52 are known as Turret 52A and Turret 52B.
Turret 52A (Banks East) (grid reference NY5747864729 ) is situated by the road east of Banks village. [2] Excavations in 1933 uncovered remains of the demolished Turf Wall abutting the turret's east wall. [2] The turret was in use from around the early 2nd century until at least the end of the 3rd century. [2] The entrance is on the southeast side, and traces of two hearths and a low bench along the north west wall. [2] The walls have been consolidated and restored, and stand to a maximum height of 1.75 metres. [2] The turret was the first section of Hadrian's Wall to be placed in the guardianship of the Ancient Monuments department in 1934. [2]
Turret 52B (grid reference NY57006457 ) has never been located. [3] Its position has been estimated in relation to Turret 52A and Milecastle 53. [3] It may lie beneath the modern road. [3]
The remains of Pike Hill Signal Tower are situated 170 metres east of Turret 52A. [2] The greater part of the signal tower has been destroyed by the modern road, but a fragment of its southeast wall, 2 metres long and 0.8 metres wide, is south of the road. [4] The signal tower is of interest because it predates Hadrian's Wall, which was later built around it. The tower remains are at an angle of 45° to the wall. The very deep foundations of the tower suggest it had extra height for signalling purposes.
Milecastle 48 , is a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. 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.
Milecastle 50 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 51 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 53 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 39 is a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Leahill Turret is a typical example of one of the lookout towers located between the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria; located on the Lanercost Road near Banks, Parish of Waterhead. It is designated turret 51b and lies east of the Signal Tower at Pike Hill.
Milecastle 79 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 72 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 42 (Cawfields) is a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 47 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Pike Hill Signal Tower was one of a number of signal stations that were built on high ground overlooking the line of the Roman Stanegate road in northern Britannia during the early 2nd century. It later became incorporated into Hadrian's Wall. Its remains, a 2-metre long fragment of the south-east wall, lie south of a modern road cutting and field wall, and are located in the parish of Waterhead in Cumbria, United Kingdom. The tower is located between Turret 51B and Turret 52A with the fort of Banna located to the east.
Milecastle 44 (Allolee) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 37 is one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall. It is immediately west of the Housesteads Roman Fort.
Milecastle 35 (Sewingshields) is one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall. The remains still exist as exposed masonry.
Milecastle 36 was one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground as most of the walls have been robbed and quarried away.
Milecastle 41 (Melkridge) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 43 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. It was obliterated when the fort at Great Chesters (Aesica) was built.
Milecastle 45 (Walltown) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 54 (Randylands) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 65 (Tarraby) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Turret 52A (Banks East) . |
Forts and structures of Hadrian's Wall | ||
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| Wall Forts (East to West) |   | |
| Outpost Forts | ||
| Stanegate Forts |
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| Supply Forts | ||
| Cumbrian Coast Forts (North to South) |
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| Milecastles | ||
| Milefortlets | ||
| Other structures on Hadrian's Wall | ||
| Regular and linear features | ||
Roman visitor sites in the UK | ||
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| Villas |  | |
| Forts & military |
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| Towns | ||
| Museums | ||
| Other sites | ||