| Milecastle 59 | |
|---|---|
 Hadrian's Wall Path in the vicinity of Milecastle 59 | |
  Location within Cumbria | |
| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°56′52″N2°48′17″W / 54.94769°N 2.804851°W Coordinates: 54°56′52″N2°48′17″W / 54.94769°N 2.804851°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NY48546174 |
Milecastle 59 (Old Wall) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall (grid reference NY48546174 ).
Milecastle 59 is on level ground 450 metres east of the hamlet of Oldwall in the civil parish of Irthington. [1] It is directly north of Carlisle Airport. The remains of Milecastle 59 are now under pasture, and it is not visible above ground. [2]
Milecastle 59 was excavated in 1894. [2] The excavations yielded stone foundations, and a pottery assemblage, described as being "Romano-British". [2] A geophysical survey conducted in 1981 indicated that the south wall of the milecastle still survives in situ, but that the side walls are ploughed away or robbed out. [2]
An inscription ( RIB 2014) was found some 150 metres south of Milecastle 59 near the Vallum. It reads "C(OHORS) IIII LIN(GONUM) F(ECIT)" which translates as "The Fourth Cohort of Lingonians built this." [3] An altar ( RIB 2015) found "near milecastle 59" was dedicated to Mars Cocidius, and erected by a centurion of the First Cohort of Batavians. [4]
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 59 are known as Turret 59A and Turret 59B. None of the turrets between Milecastles 59 and 72 were sought or identified prior to 1961. [5]
Turret 59A (grid reference NY48086170 ) has never been located. [5] Its approximate position has been calculated in relation to other structures on Hadrian's Wall, and it is thought to be located immediately east of Oldwall. [1] Turret 59A was searched for by the 1981 geophysical survey but not located. [5]
Turret 59B (grid reference NY476615 ) has never been located. [6] Its approximate position can only be estimated in relation to other structures on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 49 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
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 78 (Kirkland) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 77 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 76 (Drumburgh) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 74 was one of a series of milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 73 (Dykesfield) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 71 (Wormanby) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 54 (Randylands) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 56 (Walton) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 57 (Cambeckhill) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 58 (Newtown) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 60 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 61 (Wallhead) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 62 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 63 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 64 (Drawdykes) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 65 (Tarraby) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall.
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 (Braelees) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Forts and structures of Hadrian's Wall | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wall Forts (East to West) |   | |
| Outpost Forts | ||
| Stanegate Forts |
| |
| Supply Forts | ||
| Cumbrian Coast Forts (North to South) |
| |
| Milecastles | ||
| Milefortlets | ||
| Other structures on Hadrian's Wall | ||
| Regular and linear features | ||