Hostname: page-component-669899f699-vbsjw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-28T21:52:49.323Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Whitley Castle, Northumberland: An Analytical Survey of the Fort and its Setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2013

David Went  and
Stewart Ainsworth
David Went
Affiliation:
English Heritage, York david.went@english-heritage.org.uk
Stewart Ainsworth
Affiliation:
University of Chester s.ainsworth@chester.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Analytical earthwork and geophysical surveys have advanced our understanding of the lozenge-shaped Roman fort at Whitley Castle (Northumberland), which is notable for the exceptional depth of its outer defences. Built at a higher altitude than any other fort in England, it was almost certainly positioned to control the production and shipment of lead and silver from the Alston ore-fields. Its curious shape, tailored to that of the natural knoll, necessitated some adjustment of a standard fort plan, but accommodated six buildings to the rear of the central range and four to the front. An extramural settlement and terraced fields have been recorded to the west and north, and a swathe of ground to the south may have provided space for a parade ground. Post-Roman activity is evident from the cultivation and settlement remains that override the defences; two bastle-like buildings and an eighteenth-century farmhouse once stood within the fort itself.

Keywords

Whitley Castleearthwork surveygeophysical surveyRoman armyfortMaiden Wayextramural settlementAlstonlead/silver miningbastle
Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 44 , November 2013 , pp. 93 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2013. Published by The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Footnotes

This paper is published with the aid of a grant from English Heritage

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ainsworth, S. 2010: ‘Miner-Farmer landscapes of the North Pennines AONB: new research on Alston Moor and the South Tyne valley’, Archaeology in Northumberland 19, 14–15 Google Scholar
Ainsworth, S., Bowden, M., and McOmish, D. 2007: Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes: A Guide to Good Recording Practice, Swindon Google Scholar
Bainbridge, W. 1855: ‘Account of the Roman road called “The Maiden Way”’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 1st series, 4, 36–53 Google Scholar
Bennett, J. 1986: ‘Fort sizes as a guide to garrison type: a preliminary study of selected forts in the European provinces’, Studien zu den Militärgrenzen Roms III 13. Internationaler Limeskongreß Aalen 1983, Stuttgart, 707–16Google Scholar
Bidwell, P. 1997: Roman Forts in Britain, London Google Scholar
Bidwell, P. 2005: ‘The systems of obstacles on Hadrian's Wall: their extent, date and purpose’, The Arbeia Journal 8, 53–75 Google Scholar
Bidwell, P., and Hodgson, N. 2009: The Roman Army in Northern England, Kendal Google Scholar
Bidwell, P., and Speak, S. 1994: Excavations at South Shields Roman Fort, Vol. 1, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne Monograph 4, Newcastle upon TyneGoogle Scholar
Bidwell, P., Snape, M., and Croom, A. 1999: Hardknott Roman Fort, Cumbria, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Research Series 9, Kendal Google Scholar
Biggins, J.A., and Taylor, D.J.A. 1999: ‘A survey of the Roman fort and settlement at Birdoswald, Cumbria’, Britannia 30, 91–110 Google Scholar
Biggins, J.A., and Taylor, D.J.A. 2004: ‘The Roman fort and vicus at Maryport: geophysical survey, 2000–2004’, in Wilson, R.J.A. and Caruana, I.D. (eds), Romans on the Solway, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Extra Series 31, 102–33Google Scholar
Birley, A. 2002: Garrison Life at Vindolanda, Stroud Google Scholar
Birley, A., and Birley, A. 2010: ‘A Dolichenum at Vindolanda’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th series, 39, 25–51 Google Scholar
Birley, E. 1950: ‘A Roman altar from Staward Pele and Roman remains in Allendale’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 28, 132–51Google Scholar
Birley, R. 2009: Vindolanda: A Roman Frontier Fort on Hadrian's Wall, Stroud Google Scholar
Blood, K., Lax, A., and Welfare, H. 1999: ‘Analytical survey of the fort and its environs’, in Bidwell et al. 1999, 20–32Google Scholar
Bosanquet, R.C. 1924: ‘Whitley Castle, Kirkhaugh, Randalholme and Langley’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 1, 249–55Google Scholar
Breeze, D. 1983: ‘The Roman forts at Ardoch’, in O'Connor, A. and Clarke, D.V. (eds), From the Stone to the ’Forty-Five, Edinburgh, 224–36Google Scholar
Breeze, D. 2002: ‘Ditches for defence: towards a study of multiple fort ditches’, in Freeman et al. 2002, 883–6Google Scholar
Breeze, D. 2011: ‘The Roman military occupation of northern England’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 3rd series, 11, 113–36Google Scholar
Bruce, J. Collingwood 1853: The Roman Wall, London Google Scholar
Burnham, B.C., and Davies, J.L. 2010: Roman Frontiers in Wales and the Marches, Aberystwyth Google Scholar
Cain, C. 1908: Capella de Geraldegile: or the Story of a Cumberland Chapelry (Garrigil), Haltwhistle Google Scholar
Camden, W. 1607: Britannia, London Google Scholar
Codrington, T. 1919: Roman Roads in Britain, London Google Scholar
Collingwood, R.G. 1930: The Archaeology of Roman Britain, London Google Scholar
Collingwood, R.G. 1937: ‘Two Roman mountain roads’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 2nd series, 37, 1–12 Google Scholar
Crow, J. 2004: Housesteads: A Fort and Garrison on Hadrian's Wall, Stroud Google Scholar
Donald, T. 1774: Historic Map of Cumberland 1774, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Record Series 15 (2002)Google Scholar
van Driel-Murray, C. 1987: ‘Roman footwear: a mirror of fashion and society’, in Friendship-Taylor, D.E., Swann, J.M. and Thomas, S. (eds), Recent Research in Archaeological Footwear, Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors Technical Paper 8, 32–42 Google Scholar
Dunham, K.C. 1990: Geology of the North Pennine Orefield, Volume 1: Tyne to Stainmore, London Google Scholar
Fairbairn, R.A. 1993: The Mines of Alston Moor, British Mining 47Google Scholar
Fentress, E.W.B. 1979: Numidia and the Roman Army: Social, Military and Economic Aspects of the Frontier Zone, BAR International Series 53, Oxford Google Scholar
Freeman, P., Bennett, J., Fiema, Z.T., and Hoffmann, B. (eds) 2002: Limes 18: Proceedings of the XVIII International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies held in Amman, Jordan (September 2000), BAR International Series 1084 (II), Oxford Google Scholar
Frere, S.S., and St Joseph, J.K.S. 1983: Roman Britain from the Air, Cambridge Google Scholar
Gates, T. 1982: ‘Farming on the frontier: Romano-British fields in Northumberland’, in Clack, P. and Haselgrove, S. (eds), Rural Settlement in the Roman North, Durham, 21–42 Google Scholar
Gates, T., and Hewitt, R. 2007: ‘Some newly identified Roman temporary camps in Northumberland and their relation to the Devil's Causeway’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th series, 36, 11–30 Google Scholar
Hale, D. 2009: Whitley Castle, Tynedale, Northumberland: Geophysical Surveys, Archaeological Services Durham University Report 2149Google Scholar
Haverfield, F. 1910: ‘Notes on Reginald Bainbrigg of Appleby, and William Camden’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 2nd series, 11, 342–78Google Scholar
Haverfield, F. 1913: ‘Voreda, the Roman fort at Plumpton Wall’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 2nd series, 13, 177–98Google Scholar
Hodgson, J. 1818: Northumberland or Original Delineations Topographical, Historical and Descriptive of that County, London Google Scholar
Hodgson, J. 1840: History of Northumberland, Part 2, Vol. 3, Newcastle upon TyneGoogle Scholar
Hodgson, N. 2002a: ‘Where did they put the horses? revisited: the recent discovery of cavalry barracks in the Roman forts at Wallsend and South Shields on Hadrian's Wall’, in Freeman et al. 2002, 887–94Google Scholar
Hodgson, N. 2002b: The Roman Fort at Wallsend (Segedunum). Excavations in 1997–8, Tyne and Wear Museums Archaeological Monograph 2, Newcastle upon TyneGoogle Scholar
Hoffman, B. 1995: ‘The quarters of the legionary centurions of the Principate’, Britannia 26, 107–51Google Scholar
Holder, P.A. 1982: The Roman Army in Britain, London Google Scholar
Horsley, J. 1732: Britannia Romana (1974 reprint), Newcastle upon TyneGoogle Scholar
Jessop, L., and Whitfield, M. 2010: The Parish of Alston Moor: Historic Area Assessment, English Heritage Research Department Report Series 064-2010Google Scholar
Jobey, G. 1960: ‘Some rectilinear settlements of the Roman period in Northumberland, Part 1’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 38, 1–38 Google Scholar
Jobey, G. 1964: ‘Enclosed stone built settlements in North Northumberland’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 42, 41–64 Google Scholar
Jobey, G. 1972: ‘Notes on additional settlements in North Northumberland’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 50, 71–80 Google Scholar
Johnson, A. 1983: Roman Forts of the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD in Britain and the German Provinces, London Google Scholar
Jones, M.J. 1975: Roman Fort-Defences to AD 117, BAR 21, Oxford Google Scholar
Mackay, D. 1990: ‘The Great Chesters aqueduct: a new survey’, Britannia 21, 285–9Google Scholar
Margary, I.D. 1967: Roman Roads in Britain, London Google Scholar
Maxwell, G.S. 1975: ‘Excavations at the Roman fort of Bothwellhaugh, Lanarkshire, 1967–8’, Britannia 6, 20–5Google Scholar
Mould, Q. 1997: ‘Leather’, in Wilmott, T. with Hird, L., Izard, K. and Summerfield, J., Birdoswald: Excavations of a Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall and its Successor Settlements 1987–92, English Heritage Archaeological Report 14, London, 326–41Google Scholar
Noel, M.J. 2006: Preliminary Geophysical Surveys at Whitley Castle Roman Fort (Epiacum) Tynedale, Geoquest Associates Google Scholar
O'Leary, T.J., Blockley, K., and Musson, C. 1989: Pentre Farm, Flint 1976–81: An Official Building in the Roman Lead Mining District, BAR British Series 207, Oxford Google Scholar
Oswald, A., Ainsworth, S., Oakey, M., and Went, D. forthcoming: ‘Putting the Prehistory of the North Pennines on the map’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Google Scholar
Raistrick, A., and Jennings, B.A. 1966: A History of Lead Mining in the Pennines, London Google Scholar
Ramm, H.G., McDowall, R.W., and Mercer, E. 1970: Shielings and Bastles, London Google Scholar
RIB I: Collingwood, R.G. and Wright, R.P., The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, I: Inscriptions on Stone (1965)Google Scholar
RIB II.1: Frere, S.S., Roxan, M. and Tomlin, R.S.O. (eds): The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, II: Instrumentum Domesticum: Fasc. 1, The Military Diplomata: Metal Ingots; Tesserae; Dies; Label; and Lead Sealings (1990)Google Scholar
Richmond, I.A. 1936: ‘Roman leaden sealings from Brough-under-Stainmore’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, new series, 36, 104–21Google Scholar
Rivet, A.L.F., and Smith, C. 1979: Place Names of Roman Britain, London Google Scholar
Robertson, A.F. 2007: Whitley Castle: A Roman Fort near Alston in Cumbria, Alston Google Scholar
Robertson, A.F. 2011: ‘A history of Castle Nook (Whitley Castle) and Whitlow, in South Tynedale, Northumberland from surviving deeds, 1657–1868’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th series, 40, 224–42Google Scholar
Robertson, A.S. 1975: Birrens (Blatobulgium), Edinburgh Google Scholar
Rushworth, A. 2009: Housesteads Roman Fort – The Grandest Station: Excavation and Survey at Housesteads 1954–95 by Charles Daniels, John Gillam, James Crow and Others, Volume 1: Structural Report and Discussion, Swindon Google Scholar
Ryder, P.F. 1995: Towers and Bastles in Northumberland IV Tynedale District, unpub. report held in Northumberland Historic Environment RecordGoogle Scholar
Ryder, P.F. 2006: Two Former Houses at Whitlow, South Tynedale. An Archaeological Assessment, unpub. report held in Northumberland Historic Environment RecordGoogle Scholar
Ryder, P.F. 2008: ‘Whitlow III’, Cumberland and Westmorland AntiquArian and Archaeological Society Newsletter 58, 12–13 Google Scholar
Sainsbury, I., and Welfare, H. 1990: ‘The Roman fort at Bewcastle: an analytical field survey’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 2nd series, 90, 139–46Google Scholar
Salway, P. 1981: Roman Britain, Oxford Google Scholar
Shaw, N. 1959: ‘Excavation at Whitley Castle, Northumberland 1957 and 1958’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th series, 37, 191–202 Google Scholar
Sommer, C.S. 1984: The Military Vici in Roman Britain: Aspects of their Origins, their Location and Layout, Administration, Function and End, BAR British Series 129, Oxford Google Scholar
Sopwith, T. 1833: An Account of the Mining District of Alston Moor, Weardale and Teesdale in Cumberland and Durham, Alnwick Google Scholar
Wallace, W. 1890: Alston Moor: Its Pastoral People, its Mines and Miners, Newcastle upon TyneGoogle Scholar
Welfare, H. 2009: ‘Survey of Housesteads environs’, in Rushworth 2009, 235–49Google Scholar
Welfare, H., and Swan, V. 1995: Roman Camps in England: The Field Archaeology, London Google Scholar
Went, D., and Ainsworth, S. 2009: Whitley Castle, Tynedale, Northumberland: An Archaeological Investigation of the Roman Fort and its Setting, English Heritage Research Department Report Series 89-2009Google Scholar
Weston, S. 1813: ‘Description of a Roman altar found in the neighbourhood of Alston Moor in Cumberland’, Archaeologia 17, 229–30Google Scholar
Wilmott, T. 2006: ‘The profile of the ditch of Hadrian's Wall’, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th series, 35, 33–8Google Scholar
Winchester, A. 2000: The Harvest of the Hills: Rural Life in Northern England and the Scottish Borders 1400–1700, Edinburgh Google Scholar
Wright, R.P. 1943: ‘The Whitley Castle altar to Apollo’, Journal of Roman Studies 33, 36–8Google Scholar