Summary : A Roman temporary camp surviving as an earthwork. There are two camps at Markham Cottage: the larger and earlier camp 1 (NY 76 NW 14) contains the smaller camp 2 within its N margin. The course of the Vallum lies 110 m to the N and the fort at Great Chesters (Aesica) is only 520 m to the NNW. Camp 2 is generally better preserved than camp 1. It occupies the gentle N-facing slope, under permanent pasture, at about 185 m above OD. Its S side lies on a false crest and its N defences appear to have been thrown up by reconstructing, or simply reusing, those of the larger camp 1. At its NE corner the ditch of camp 2 cuts through the remains of the rampart of camp 1 and the smaller camp is therefore undoubtedly later. Overall it measures 130 m from N to S by 106 m transversely, enclosing an area of 1.4 ha (3.4 acres) within a bank up to 0.3 m high internally and an external ditch now 0.3 m deep. Both bank and ditch survive in fairly good condition on the S and W sides, although the ditch has been scoured out by surface drainage in places. Fragmentary ridge-and-furrow within the camp has impinged upon parts of the S and E ramparts and the latter has disappeared entirely where it climbs over a rocky hillock. The N defences are cut by recent drains and partly overlain by a field wall, but elsewhere the outward-facing scarp of the rampart stands 0.7 m high. There is an entrance at the midpoint of the N side and at that of the S side. The former is a gap, 7.0 m wide, now occupied by a drainage channel. A field wall stands on the assumed position of a traverse of which there is no trace. The S entrance survives as a break in the rampart, 8m wide, but the causeway across the ditch has been cut through and destroyed by a natural drainage channel. The traverse protecting this gate has also been damaged by surface water, although the remains of its bank still survive to a height of 0.3 m and its ditch is 0.2 m deep. Full information is included in the NMR Archive. |
More information : [NY 70896625] Roman Camp [G.S.] (1)
A Ro. temporary camp situated on the west side of the Haltwhistle-burn, practically opposite the larger of the two camps found in 1907 [NY 76 NW 13] measures about 139 yds N-S by 120 yds E-W. It has only one entrance with a straight traverse, in the middle of the south front. (2)
Correctly described. The remains consist of a much reduced, and mutilated rampart with a superficial ditch. Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
This camp has been re-assessed in connection with RCHME's survey and publication of Roman Camps in England. The following descriptive account is taken from the published text. There are two camps at Markham Cottage: the larger and earlier camp 1 (NY 76 NW 14) contains the smaller camp 2 within its N margin. The course of the Vallum lies 110 m to the N and the fort at Great Chesters (Aesica) is only 520 m to the NNW. Camp 2 is generally better preserved than camp 1. It occupies the gentle N-facing slope, under permanent pasture, at about 185 m above OD. Its S side lies on a false crest and its N defences appear to have been thrown up by reconstructing, or simply reusing, those of the larger camp 1. At its NE corner the ditch of camp 2 cuts through the remains of the rampart of camp 1 and the smaller camp is therefore undoubtedly later. Overall it measures 130 m from N to S by 106 m transversely, enclosing an area of 1.4 ha (3.4 acres) within a bank up to 0.3 m high internally and an external ditch now 0.3 m deep. Both bank and ditch survive in fairly good condition on the S and W sides, although the ditch has been scoured out by surface drainage in places. Fragmentary ridge-and-furrow within the camp has impinged upon parts of the S and E ramparts and the latter has disappeared entirely where it climbs over a rocky hillock. The N defences are cut by recent drains and partly overlain by a field wall, but elsewhere the outward-facing scarp of the rampart stands 0.7 m high. There is an entrance at the midpoint of the N side and at that of the S side. The former is a gap, 7.0 m wide, now occupied by a drainage channel. A field wall stands on the assumed position of a traverse of which there is no trace. The S entrance survives as a break in the rampart, 8m wide, but the causeway across the ditch has been cut through and destroyed by a natural drainage channel. The traverse protecting this gate has also been damaged by surface water, although the remains of its bank still survive to a height of 0.3 m and its ditch is 0.2 m deep. Full information is included in the NMR Archive. (4)
Additional reference. (5)
Published reference. (6)
The camp was surveyed from aerial photographs at 1:10000 scale as part of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site Mapping Project. (7)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (8) |