Milecastle 23

Coordinates: 55°00′54″N 2°02′25″W / 55.014932°N 2.040394°W / 55.014932; -2.040394

Milecastle 23

Site of Milecastle 23

Site of Milecastle 23
Milecastle 23
Milecastle 23 shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference NY97516893
List of places
UK
England
Northumberland

Milecastle 23 (Stanley) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low, grass covered platform with traces of an external ditch (as Milecastle 25). It is located to the south of the B6318 Military Road around 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of its junction with the A68.

Construction

Milecastle 23 was a long-axis milecastle. The gateway type is unknown, though long-axis milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the Legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York).[1]

The milecastle measured 15.24 metres (50.0 ft) across, and had broad east and west walls (the curtain wall at this point was also broad gauge). The width of the south wall is unknown.[2]

The ditch at the point corresponding to the milecastle's north gate undergoes a slight change in profile in the bottom. Also, there is an 8 metres (26 ft) gap in the upcast mound at the same point. These features indicate the existence of a causeway, later removed. There was also eveidence of an equivalent causeway across the vallum, and gaps in the vallum mounds (also removed).[2]

Excavations and investigations

Associated Turrets

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 23 are known as Turret 23A and Turret 23B.

Turret 23A

No surface traces ramain of Turret 23A (Stanley Plantation).[4] Its position was established in 1920, though its remains lie beneath the B6318 Military Road.[5]

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55°00′57″N 2°02′53″W / 55.015963°N 2.047949°W / 55.015963; -2.047949 (Turret 23A)

Turret 23B

No surface traces remain of Turret 23B (Wall Fell).[6] Its position was established in 1920 purely by reference to the position of Turret 23A, though this cannot be confirmed as remains lie beneath the B6318 Military Road.[5]

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 54°59′37″N 1°44′12″W / 54.993672°N 1.736733°W / 54.993672; -1.736733 (Turret 23B)

Monument Records

Monument Monument NumberEnglish Heritage Archive Number
Milecastle 2318177NY 96 NE 8
Turret 23A18180NY 96 NE 9
Turret 23B18183NY 96 NE 10

Public Access

Access to the mound marking the Milecastle is via the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail.

References

  1. ↑ David J Breeze and Brian Dobson (1976). Hadrian's Wall. Allen Lane. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-14-027182-1.
  2. 1 2 3 Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition - Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 185–186, ISBN 0-901082-65-1
  3. 1 2 "Milecastle 23". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 Aug 2010.
  4. ↑ "Turret 23A". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 Aug 2010.
  5. 1 2 Birley, Eric B (1961), Research on Hadrian's Wall, Titus Wilson & Son, p. 73
  6. ↑ "Turret 23B". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 Aug 2010.

Bibliography

External links

Media related to Milecastle 23 at Wikimedia Commons

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