Corbridge Roman Town, Northumberland (Northumberland)

Walk along the streets of this Roman garrison town, flanked by the remains of granaries, a fountain house and temples.

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Introduction

Visitors to Corbridge can walk along the main street of this Roman garrison town, flanked by the remains of granaries, a fountain house, markets, workshops and temples.

History to the present day

Soon after Roman victories in modern Scotland, around AD 84, a new fort was built on the present site with turf ramparts and timber gates. Internally, barrack blocks surrounded a headquarters building, a commander’s residence, administrative staff accommodation, workshops and granaries. It was probably occupied by a 500-strong cavalry unit called the Ala Petriana, but was destroyed by fire in AD 105. A second timber fort was built guarding a major crossing of the River Tyne at a time when the Solway Plain-Tyne divide was the Roman frontier. Around AD 120, when Hadrian’s Wall was built, the fort was again rebuilt, probably to house infantry troops away from the Wall; at that time Hadrian's Wall in this region was largely built of stone, unlike more westerly areas which used turf and timber construct. About twenty years later, when the frontier was pushed further north and the Antonine Wall built, the first stone fort was erected under the Governor Quintus Lollius Urbicus.

There is evidence of Iron Age round houses on the site, but the first Romans in the area built the Red House Fort, half a mile to the west, as a supply camp for Agricola's campaigns.

Covering every aspect of Roman life, the artefacts here include the tombstone of little Ertola, who 'lived most happily four years and sixty days', shown still playing with her ball: and the famous Corbridge lion carving, the recognised symbol of the site.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Corbridge Roman Town, Northumberland, , United Kingdom

Opening times:

1 Apr-30 Sep: 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week
1Oct-1 Nov: 10am-4pm, 7 days a week
2 Nov-31 Mar: 10am-4pm Sat, & Sun

Prices:

Adult:£4.50

Children:£2.30

Concession:£3.80

 

Photography is copyright of English Heritage Photo Library