Milefortlet 15

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Milefortlet 15
Mawbray Bank, looking north - geograph.org.uk - 65425.jpg
The eroding cliff of Mawbray Bank in the vicinity of Milefortlet 15
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°49′21″N3°25′24″W / 54.822535°N 3.42331°W / 54.822535; -3.42331 Coordinates: 54°49′21″N3°25′24″W / 54.822535°N 3.42331°W / 54.822535; -3.42331
CountyCumbria
CountryEngland
Reference
UK-OSNG reference NY086484

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.

Contents

Description

Milefortlet 15 was situated on the cliff between the villages of Beckfoot and Mawbray, in the civil parish of Holme St Cuthbert. [1] It was located 350 metres south-west of Bibra Roman Fort at Beckfoot. [1] The site of Milefortlet 15 is believed to have been destroyed by coastal erosion. An eastern rampart was identified and excavated in 1954 with no results, and the site had fully eroded by 1980. [1]

Roman cemetery

A Roman cremation cemetery was located next to Milefortlet 15, and was associated with Bibra Roman Fort and its surrounding vicus. [2] Finds associated with the cemetery include Samian ware pottery and a bronze disc brooch. [2] An excavation was conducted in 2006 in which eight cremation burials were recorded, which were dated from pottery finds to the 3rd-century. [2]

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 15 are known as Tower 15A (grid reference NY08504794 ) and Tower 15B (grid reference NY083475 ). [3] [4]

The site of Tower 15A is located on the summit of a high dune about 75 metres from the sea. [3] Excavations were conducted in 1954 which revealed the eastern wall of a 6-metre square building. [3] Fragments of pottery and other occupation debris were found. [3] The site of Tower 15B has not been found, and the area is covered in high dunes. [4]

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 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.

Milefortlet 11

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Milefortlet 15 (9065)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 28 November 2013
  2. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Monument No. 9062", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 28 November 2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 Historic England, "Tower 15A (9084)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 28 November 2013
  4. 1 2 Historic England, "Tower 15B (9081)", Research records (formerly PastScape), retrieved 28 November 2013
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