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The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
General Forum >> POSSIBLE ROMAN FORT TO BE OR NOT TO BE
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POSSIBLE ROMAN FORT TO BE OR NOT TO BE |
Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7043
from Surrey, UK
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|  Posted 05-07-2004 at 19:50
[One for you Tim?]
from GAZ:
I could do with some help from the Roman-experts out there…?
After doing some research on Roman occupation in my local area, I soon began to realise that there may be a few more important sites to be yet revealed: or maybe they are known about and have already been marked down as scheduled monuments without the public knowledge.
Using the Multi-map photo facility I’ve been able to trace and plot all known Roman roads in the area. The bird’s eye view accentuates the straightness of the roads and displays in a typical fashion how the Romans navigated and constructed their roads over hilly terrain’s.
A particular area of interest to me shows three main roads meeting together on the crest of a hill: at this junction point there is a large, rectangular, raised-playing-field that stands out as a peculiar feature in the landscape. Could this be a fort? The feature itself is engulfed by a large golf course, of which - after further scrutinisation in other not far off areas – seem to be placed adjacent and right next to many of the Roman roads .
I could be out of my depth with this half baked theory and I don’t particularly want to open a can of worms, but I would appreciate any comments relating to the positioning and distances of forts, turrets and look-out posts etc on the Roman roadways.
I can give the exact location of the site to anyone interested as I would appreciate a second opinion.
"HEEEZA CRAAAZY"...Gaz
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TimPrevett
Joined:
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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|  Posted 06-07-2004 at 16:08
Gaz, can you present your information thus far?
Romans also made very short used marching camps such as this one in Shropshire (not a good image really). This would be playing card shaped. If a more established fort, look for gateways in the centre of each side, or the straight roads within. Where do the roads outside join into the area? Can you give a grid references, and where you are? I see from your info that you are in the NE - near Hadrian's Wall? Check aerial pics of the area for possible crop marks? Your local SMR ? With more info I can quickly give you some better feedback, or maybe point some considerably more experienced Roman interested folk in your direction.
Cheers
Tim 
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GAZ
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from North-East
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| Posted 06-07-2004 at 17:47
Quote:
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On 2004-07-06 16:08, ShropshireTraveller wrote:
Gaz, can you present your information thus far?
Romans also made very short used marching camps such as this one in Shropshire (not a good image really). This would be playing card shaped. If a more established fort, look for gateways in the centre of each side, or the straight roads within. Where do the roads outside join into the area? Can you give a grid references, and where you are? I see from your info that you are in the NE - near Hadrian's Wall? Check aerial pics of the area for possible crop marks? Your local SMR ? With more info I can quickly give you some better feedback, or maybe point some considerably more experienced Roman interested folk in your direction.
Cheers
Tim
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Cheers Tim,
Check it out for yourself with the ref.
Gaz 
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 06-07-2004 at 18:44
Gaz, I've had a look 
Here are my findings - let me know what you think or any subsequent discoveries.
Cheers
Tim
In the centre of this aerial shot I can see what appear as two marks in the fields parallel to Springwell Road and the B1288. The NW one is parallel to a field boundary, the NE line in the centre of the field. Is this the exact spot you had in mind?
There is nothing on NMR for Wrekenton.
The site at Wrekenton Golf Club NW of J65 on A194M does situate it to the confluence of the Roman Roads from the Roman forts of Arbeia and Pons Aelius, south to Congangis (Chester-le-Street), and SE from the fort of Whickham.
Perhaps chase it up with the archaeology dept at Gateshead MBC? Put your evidence to them.
Archaeology
The Council has a duty to consider archaeological remains in carrying out its planning functions. On occasion it will require developers to undertake archaeological investigations on sites in the borough considered to be of significant historical interest before development takes place.
Contact: Design, Development and Enterprise, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH
Tel: (0191) 433 3000, Fax: (0191) 478 3491, Minicom: (0191) 478 1869
E-mail:
enquiries@planning.gatesheadmbc.gov.uk
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GAZ
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| Posted 06-07-2004 at 19:49
The exact place - when looking at your multi-map ref - is at the bottom left hand corner of the image and is more or less touching Wreckington golf course. The 'Roman Road' coming from the east and staying perfectly straight cuts through a small housing estate and finishes on this anomally.
At the bottom of this rectangular shape, cutting through the golf course, you can make where maybe another road heads off down-hill towards Birtley, then to Chesterly Street, the other road heads off towards Gateshead centre on the Old Durham rd.
Cheers for the advice of which I will follow through
Gaz
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TimPrevett
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| Posted 07-07-2004 at 06:43
So, it should be here instead which centres the feature concerned?
Cheers
Tim
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 07-07-2004 at 12:33
Yes Tim, this is the place I had in mind, although on the old map it does state that it’s a ‘Centre Pit’ for coal. The two marks in the fields running parallel to Springwell Road and the B1288 - mentioned earlier - could well-be another prime spot as it is on higher ground and is aptly-named on the Old-Map as ‘The Camp Ground’ and ‘Site of Hut’s’. Above these features leading directly off the ‘Roman Road’ is the ‘Wreken Dyke’ …the meaning of I believe is a ‘ditch’.
As a matter of interest I have just recently stumbled across a web page ‘GEN-UKI, The Winlaton Story, by local historian R.Anderson’, who has upheld a theory that a branch of ‘Watling Street’ ran from Coalburns, through Winlaton, to connect up with the Wrekendyke at Gateshead, a theory which has never been proven.
At this moment my aim is to gather as much information as possible on the subject, then I'll be able to submit my finds to the local council.
Keep posting and Cheers for all your help mate
Gaz
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TimPrevett
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| Posted 17-07-2004 at 20:26
No problems Gaz I think all of us would like to discover something 'new' - so if you have (or have not!) let me / us know. One can live in hope.
Cheers
Tim
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 26-08-2004 at 20:03
Any news, Gaz?
A book I must recommend is
R. J. A. Wilson's A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain, 4th. edition (Constable 2002) - pretty darn brilliant, and a rucksack pocket size, too.
Cheers
Tim
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 27-08-2004 at 15:39
Hello again Tim,
I ain't got in touch with anyone as yet - regarding the possible Roman fort - as I would like to gather a bit more evidence to back up the claim, but I'm working on it.
When scrutinising the area over and over again, it seems very likley that there would have been some kind of Roman post or fort on this site. Apart from Beacon Lough, it also happens to be one of the highest vantage-points in Gateshead, at almost 600ft a.s.l. ...
Beacon Lough - about a mile away next to the QE hospital - is also a place of interest to me. The beacon place-name speaks for itself and is supposedly to have been the site of a large stone circle.
Back in the 60's, on the same site further east, I can clearly remember a stone structure of some sort, very much like a Dolmen or quirn, unfortunately it has vanished.
Cheers again for your interest and thanks for the book tip.
Regards...Gaz
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