Milecastle 0

Last updated

Milecastle 0
Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Segedunum Roman Fort and Baths - geograph.org.uk - 37360.jpg
Segedunum – If Milecastle 0 had existed, it would have been located here
Tyne and Wear UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Milecastle 0
Location in Tyne and Wear
Coordinates 54°59′16″N1°31′56″W / 54.98791°N 1.53231°W / 54.98791; -1.53231 Coordinates: 54°59′16″N1°31′56″W / 54.98791°N 1.53231°W / 54.98791; -1.53231
Grid reference NZ300660

Milecastle 0 is a possible milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall which may have preexisted the fort of Segedunum. Although its existence has been suggested by historian Peter Hill, [1] no evidence of this milecastle has been found. It is not known whether the decision to establish forts on the line of the wall predated the decision to extend the wall to Wallsend, so it is possible that this milecastle was never built.

Contents

Construction

Nothing is known of the construction of Milecastle 0.

Excavations and investigations

No excavations or investigations have taken place specifically for Milecastle 0. No evidence has been found during excavation of Segedunum.

Associated turrets

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 0 are known as Turret 0A and Turret 0B.

Turret 0A

Nothing is known of this Turret.
Presumed site: 54°59′14″N1°32′12″W / 54.987261°N 1.536619°W / 54.987261; -1.536619 (Turret 0A)

Turret 0B

Turret 0B (St Francis) is located east of St Francis Community Centre. [2] It was first noted by John Horsley in 1732 who mistook it for Milecastle 1, and it is sometimes referred to as Horseley's Milecastle 1. [3]
Eric Birley (still understanding it to be Milecastle 1) considered that it was rediscovered by Canon Fowler in 1877, [4] and the structure was also recorded (and identified as a Turret) by John Collingwood-Bruce [5] and Robert Blair [6] , when it was discovered during the digging for foundations of 'The Grange'. The Turret was confirmed as such by Grace Simpson with reference to an article in The Evening Chronicle on 15 August 1936, which described an extension of Stotts Road, Walker which cut through 'the Roman Wall and one of its turrets near the Grange'. The turret's stones were later removed to Carville Chapel grounds to form rock gardens. [7]

A single course of this Turret was unearthed in 1978. [2]
Location: 54°59′07″N1°32′36″W / 54.985265°N 1.543440°W / 54.985265; -1.543440 (Turret )0B)

Monument records

MonumentMonument Number English Heritage Archive Number
Milecastle 0NoneNone
Turret 0A24774 (alternative – 26532)NZ 26 NE 1 (alternative – NZ 36 NW 7)
Turret 0B24777NZ 26 NE 2

Related Research Articles

Pons Aelius Roman settlement in northern England

Pons Aelius, or Newcastle Roman Fort, was an auxiliary castra and small Roman settlement on Hadrian's Wall in the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, situated on the north bank of the River Tyne close to the centre of present-day Newcastle upon Tyne, and occupied between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.

Milecastle 4

Milecastle 4 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist beneath the Newcastle Arts Centre at 67-75 Westgate Road. This position is some way away from its predicted position which is at these coordinates: 54.970440°N 1.608669°W The actual location is between the predicted positions of Turrets 4A and 4B, which has led to suggestions that the numbering and positioning of milecastles and turrets on this part of Hadrian's Wall should be reconsidered.

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 3

Milecastle 3 (Ouseburn) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. No remains exist, but it was thought to have been located at the junction of the A187 Byker Bridge and Stephen Street.

Milecastle 1

Milecastle 1 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. It was located near the valley of Stott's Pow. Its remains are covered over, and are located beneath the recreation ground at Miller's Dene. Early excavations and investigations of Turret 0B were mistakenly interpreted as Milecastle 1. The Milecastle sits within the parish of Wallsend.

Milecastle 2

Milecastle 2 (Walker) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. No remains are currently visible, having been built over, but its probable location is at or near the junction of the A187 Fossway and Tunstall Avenue, in the parish of Wallsend.

Milecastle 8

Milecastle 8 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains are located in West Denton, Newcastle upon Tyne. The milecastle has two associated turret structures that are known as turret 8A and turret 8B. The turrets and milecastle were excavated in the 1920s, yielding some pottery and stone carvings, and have since been overlain by modern roads. The exact location of the structures is disputed, with the road hiding any surface traces. The Milecastle forms part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.

Milecastle 9

Milecastle 9 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist partially as a low platform, and are located in West Denton, 300 yards (270 m) from Chapel House Farm. However, the northern part of the remains are now mostly covered by the modern roads (A69/B6528). The milecastle marks a watershed between those with relatively well-defined positions and those whose position are less certain.

Milecastle 12

Milecastle 12 (Heddon) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains lay under Town Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, with nothing visible on the surface.

Milecastle 13

Milecastle 13 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform south of the B6318 Military Road.

Milecastle 14

Milecastle 14 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform, south of the B6318 Military Road and about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the west of the road junction at Rudchester Farm.

Milecastle 21

Milecastle 21 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. The site was identified by measurement only, as the milecastle's remains have been totally removed. This is probably due to extensive quarrying at the site, which now lies under pasture.

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.

Pike Hill Signal Tower

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 27

Milecastle 27 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. It was located on the line of Hadrian's Wall, approximately midway between the A6079 and the River North Tyne. Its remains survive as a slight squarish platform with a maximum height of 0.4 metres (1.3 ft), but it is poorly defined to the north and east.

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.

Edward Charlton (historian)

Edward Charlton was an English physician, writer and historian.

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 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.

Ulpius Marcellus was a Roman Equestrian and member of the gens Ulpia. He was a lawyer from Asia Minor. It is possible he was an advisor to Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. However, most likely he was not an advisor. This is because of the lateness of his time and the fact that he is not an advisor to Hadrian. Marcellus also wrote several books. The jurist Ulpius Marcellus could be the same Ulpius Marcellus as the Ulpius Marcellus who was a legate and the one who governed Britannia. However, it is unknown if that is the case.

References

  1. ↑ Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (2001), Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity (5th Series – Vol. 29 – 2001), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 3–18
  2. 1 2 Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition – Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, ISBN   0-901082-65-1
  3. ↑ Horsley, John (1732), Britannia Romana, London: John Osborne and Thomas Longman
  4. ↑ Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (1960), Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity (4th Series – Vol. 38 – 1960), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 40–46
  5. ↑ Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (1886), Archaeologia Aeliana : Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (Vol. 2 – 1886), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, p. 190
  6. ↑ Blair, Robert (1895), Handbook to the Roman Wall (4th edition), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 40–46
  7. ↑ Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (1975), Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity (5th Series – Vol. 3 – 1975), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 105–115

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.