Milefortlet 11

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Milefortlet 11
Solway Coast Discovery Centre - geograph.org.uk - 40355.jpg
The Solway Coast Discovery Centre is thought to be the site of Milefortlet 11
Location map United Kingdom Allerdale.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Allerdale, Cumbria
Cumbria UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Cumbria, England
Type Milecastle
Location
Coordinates 54°52′19″N3°23′09″W / 54.871814°N 3.385852°W / 54.871814; -3.385852 Coordinates: 54°52′19″N3°23′09″W / 54.871814°N 3.385852°W / 54.871814; -3.385852
CountyCumbria
CountryEngland
Reference
UK-OSNG reference NY11165388

Milefortlet 11 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. Milefortlet 11 has never been accurately located on the ground although other Roman remains have been found in the area.

Contents

Description

Milefortlet 11 is thought to lie at the north end of the village of Silloth. It has never been located by archaeologists, but its approximate position has calculated from the known positions of other fortlets along the Cumbrian coast. [1] It is thought to lie near the former school (now the Solway Coast Discovery Centre). [1]

Around 200 metres northeast of the site is the buried remains of a 250-metre length of the linear defensive system forming part of the Roman frontier defences. [2] Aerial photographs show the cropmarks of two ditches running parallel to the coast. [2] Limited excavation of the ditches suggest that the ditches were designed to hold a timber palisade fence. [2] A Roman road runs behind the palisade ditches for some distance then turns into a three-sided enclosure which has been interpreted as a possible Roman camp. [2] The interpretation of this enclosure as a Roman camp has however, been dismissed by some archaeologists. [3] Some ancient field boundaries can also be seen on aerial photographs. [4]

Around 500 metres to the east of the site is a Roman enclosed settlement and field system. [5] It was excavated in 1974/5 and 1977, and was found to date to the 3rd century. [5] The site consisted of a sub-rectangular enclosure which was revetted and had a palisade on its bank; it contained a round house, a rectangular structure, and possible stock pens. [5]

Associated Towers

Each milefortlet had two associated towers, similar in construction to the turrets built along Hadrian's Wall. These towers were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milefortlet, and would probably have been manned by part of the nearest Milefortlet's garrison. The towers associated with Milefortlet 11 are known as Tower 11A (grid reference NY10915343 ) and Tower 11B (grid reference NY10675300 ). [6] [7] The locations of both towers are uncertain, and their positions have been estimated by measurement to adjoining Roman frontier works. The site of Tower 11A is under buildings in Silloth; the site of Tower 11B is now under Blitterlees Golf Course. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

Beckfoot A hamlet in Cumbria, England

Beckfoot is a hamlet in the civil parish of Holme St Cuthbert in Cumbria, England. It is located on the B5300 coast road, three miles south of Silloth-on-Solway and two miles north of the village of Mawbray. The county town of Carlisle is twenty-five miles away to the east.

Milecastle 80

Milecastle 80 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.

Milefortlet 21

Milefortlet 21 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These defences were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as reconstructed turf ramparts and ditch, reinstated to its original profile. They are located on a low cliff on the coast, north of the village of Crosscanonby, and just inland from the coastal road. It is the only milefortlet to have been fully excavated and is open to the public.

Turret (Hadrians Wall)

A turret was a small watch tower, incorporated into the curtain wall of Hadrian's Wall. The turrets were normally spaced at intervals of one third of a Roman mile between Milecastles, giving two Turrets between each Milecastle.

Milefortlet 1

Milefortlet 1 was a milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The remains of Milefortlet 1 survive as a slight earthwork.

Milefortlet 3

Milefortlet 3 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 3 has been located on aerial photographs.

Milefortlet 4

Milefortlet 4 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 4 has been located by archaeologists.

Milefortlet 5

Milefortlet 5 (Cardurnock) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The remains of Milefortlet 5 was excavated in 1943-4 prior to its destruction in 1944.

Milefortlet 9

Milefortlet 9 (Skinburness) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 9 has been located on aerial photographs.

Milefortlet 12 (Blitterlees) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 12 has been located and excavated. The milefortlet is located close to the hamlet of Blitterlees, in the civil parish of Holme Low.

Milefortlet 16 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 16 has been located.

Milefortlet 17

Milefortlet 17 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see except a slight depression in the ground, but Milefortlet 17 has been located and surveyed.

Milefortlet 20 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground, but Milefortlet 20 has been located and excavated.

Milefortlet 22

Milefortlet 22 (Brownrigg) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground, but Milefortlet 22 has been located and excavated.

Milefortlet 23

Milefortlet 23 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is nothing to see on the ground, but Milefortlet 23 has been located and surveyed.

Milefortlet 2

Milefortlet 2 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The exact location of Milefortlet 2 is unknown, although one of the nearby turrets has been located and excavated.

Milefortlet 13

Milefortlet 13 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The exact location of Milefortlet 13 is unknown, although two of the nearby turrets have been located and excavated.

Milefortlet 15

Milefortlet 15 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The site of Milefortlet 15 has been probably been destroyed by coastal erosion. A 3rd-century Roman cemetery, associated with a nearby fort at Beckfoot, was located in the area of the milefortlet.

Milefortlet 14

Milefortlet 14 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. The site of Milefortlet 14 has never been identified and it may lie beneath the village of Beckfoot. A larger fort known as Bibra Roman Fort was located 500 metres south-west of Milefortlet 14.

Milefortlet 25

Milefortlet 25 was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. Milefortlet 25 is the southernmost known of the fortlets of the Cumberland coast, but there is nothing to see on the ground, as Milefortlet 25 lies in an industrial area of Maryport.

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England, "Milefortlet 11 (9679)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 Historic England, "Palisade ditches (1015250)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 7 December 2013
  3. ↑ Historic England, "Monument No. 9687", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
  4. ↑ Historic England, "Monument No. 1471173", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
  5. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Monument No. 9676", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
  6. 1 2 Historic England, "Tower 11A (9680)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
  7. 1 2 Historic England, "Tower 11B (9681)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 7 December 2013
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