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 two Roman camps, one within the other, situated on a
gentle north-east facing slope 200m south-west of Dere Street Roman road. The
first camp, now rather fragmentary but clearly visible on aerial photographs,
is trapezoidal in shape. It is visible as a slight, fragmentary rampart 4m
wide on three sides with gateways in the south and west sides, the latter with
traces of an internal clavicula, an inturned extension of the rampart. The
northern side of the camp is visible in parts as a slight, narrow ditch. The
camp has maximum dimensions of 311m north-south by 372m east-west. The second
camp is situated within the first and is exceptionally well preserved; it is
sub-rectangular in shape with rounded corners. It measures a maximum of 205m
north-south by 175m east-west within a prominent earthen bank 4m wide and
1.5m above an external ditch 3m wide. Gateways 10.5m wide exist in all four
sides of the camp and all are protected by external detached lengths of
rampart known as traverses, although that on the north has been severely
reduced. The new security perimeter fence of Redesdale Camp which runs through
the southern edge of the scheduled area is excluded from the scheduling but
the ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20946
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
