Roman camp, 1.58km west of North Yardhope

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.

Despite some damage by land drains, the Roman temporary camp at Yardhope survives well. It is one of a network of camps in Redesdale associated with Dere Street and the fort of High Rochester and will contribute to our understanding of the Roman occupation of Northern Britain.

Details

The monument includes a Roman temporary camp situated near the end of a level promontory effected by the confluence of the Longtae Burn and Trouty Sike; the camp lies 40m north of the Roman branch road which connects the fort of High Rochester with Dere Street, the Roman road from Corbridge to Newstead in Scotland. The camp, roughly rectangular in shape with rounded corners, measures a maximum of 140m north-south by 146m east-west within a substantial rampart 3m wide and up to 1m in height. There is a 3m wide external ditch on all sides except the north. Gateways are located in the north, east and south sides but it is not clear whether there is a gateway on the west side. The gateways in the north and east sides are each located slightly off-centre. All three gateways are protected externally by a detached length of rampart and ditch known as a traverse, placed across it at a distance and blocking the direct line of access into the camp. There are no features visible on the ground within the camp but traces of occupation will be preserved beneath ground level. The camp dates from the Roman occupation of Britain in the first century AD. It is large enough to have been used periodically on a temporary basis by soldiers advancing northwards and by smaller groups engaged in routine maintenance.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

20920

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Frere, S S, Britannia vol 8 in Roman Britain in 1976, (1977), 379

Other
NT 90 SW 14,

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