Milecastle 4

Coordinates: 54°58′12″N 1°37′04″W / 54.969948°N 1.617812°W / 54.969948; -1.617812

Milecastle 4

Milecastle 4 is located beneath Newcastle Arts Centre, the flat-roofed brick building
Milecastle 4
Milecastle 4 shown within Tyne and Wear
OS grid reference NZ24526401
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Tyne and Wear

Milecastle 4 (Westgate Road) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist beneath the Newcastle Arts Centre at 67-75 Westgate Road. This position is some way away from its predicted position[1] which is at these coordinates: 54°58′14″N 1°36′31″W / 54.970440°N 1.608669°W / 54.970440; -1.608669 (Predicted Milecastle 4) The actual location is between the predicted positions of Turrets 4A and 4B, which has led to suggestions that the numbering and positioning of milecastles and turrets on this part of Hadrian's Wall should be reconsidered.[2]

Construction

Milecastle 4 was a long-axis milecastle of unknown gateway type. Such milecastles were thought to have been constructed by either the legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York), or the Legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based in Deva Victrix (Chester).[3]

The milecastle was 14.9 metres (49 ft) wide and probably 18 metres (20 yd) long. The excavated south wall was 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) wide and bonded with clay. Its foundations were 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) wide (as were those of the east wall and formed of flags (flag foundations are normally associated with broad wall milecastles.) There was evidence to suggest that the southern gateway had been blocked at some time.[1]

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 4 are known as Turret 4A and Turret 4B, however the established milecastle position is between the supposed turret positions.

Turret 4A

Nothing is known of Turret 4A. Due to the discovery of Milecastle 4 further west than the measured position of this turret, there is no monument record or assumed position.

Turret 4B

Nothing is known of Turret 4B. Due to the discovery of Milecastle 4 further west than the measured position of Turret 4A, it is extremely unlikely that the positions assumed by Birley[5] were accurate. However, a monument record exists for that location. [6]
Location: 54°59′37″N 1°44′12″W / 54.993672°N 1.736733°W / 54.993672; -1.736733 (Turret 4B)

Monument Records

Monument Monument NumberEnglish Heritage Archive Number
Milecastle 4623285NZ 26 SW 118
Original Milecastle Site24917NZ 26 SE 18
Turret 4An/an/a
Turret 4B25023NZ 26 SW 2

References

  1. 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. 150–151, ISBN 0-901082-65-1
  2. ↑ Barbara Harbottle, R. Fraser, F. C. Burton, J. N. Dore, P. J. Casey and J. P. Huntley (1988), Britannia, Vol. 19 - The Westgate Road Milecastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
  3. ↑ David J Breeze & Brian Dobson (1976). Hadrian's Wall. Allen Lane. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-14-027182-1.
  4. ↑ Hope Dodds, Madeleine (1930), A History of Northumberland, 13 (first ed.), Andrew Reid, Sons & Co, p. 498
  5. 1 2 Birley, Eric B (1961), Research on Hadrian's Wall, Titus Wilson & Son, p. 162
  6. ↑ "Turret 4B". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved XX May 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Bibliography

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