Reasons for Designation
Roman camps are rectangular or sub-rectangular enclosures which were
constructed and used by Roman soldiers either when out on campaign or as
practice camps; most campaign camps were only temporary overnight bases and
few were used for longer periods. They were bounded by a single earthen
rampart and outer ditch and in plan are always straight-sided with rounded
corners. Normally they have between one and four entrances, although as many
as eleven have been recorded. Such entrances were usually centrally placed in
the sides of the camp and were often protected by additional defensive
outworks. Roman camps are found throughout much of England, although most
known examples lie in the midlands and north. Around 140 examples have been
identified and, as one of the various types of defensive enclosure built by
the Roman Army, particularly in hostile upland and frontier areas, they
provide an important insight into Roman military strategy and organisation.
All well-preserved examples are identified as being of national importance.
Details
The monument includes a Roman camp and a length of Roman road located on the
southern slopes of Lofshaw Hill from where there are extensive views in all
directions. The camp is sub-rectangular in plan with rounded corners and
measures approximately 430m by 370m internally. It has defences consisting of
a rampart and ditch strengthened at the north west corner by an additional
outer mound and ditch, and has entrances on each of its four sides. The
rampart stands up to 1m high in places and measures 3.6m - 4.5m wide; it is
flanked by a ditch, now partly silted up, but still seen to be up to 4m wide
by 0.3m deep. At the north west corner the camp's ditch has been cut into
bedrock and the upcast has been used to create a small outer mound beyond
which are faint traces of an outer ditch. The north and south entrances are
both defended by internal and external claviculae: a clavicula is a curving
continuation of the rampart and ditch which partially obstructs access through
the gateway. The east and west entrances are both defended by external
claviculae. The Roman road connecting Troutbeck Roman fort with the fort at
Old Penrith, known to the Romans as Voreda, passes the camp's south side and
can be seen as a raised agger or mound approximately 10m wide with faint
traces of side ditches. It deviates around small quarry workings adjacent to
the camp's south western corner and continues along lower ground to the west.
The camp is thought to date to the late first century AD during the period
when the Roman army was consolidating its position in northern England and in
particular turning its attention to the policing of the Lake District and its
indigenous population.
All field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath
them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
23754
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
