Carrawburgh Roman Fort

Carrawburgh-Roman Fort-Diagram

Carrawburgh Roman Fort

Carrawburgh Roman Fort is situated 3.5 miles west of Chesters and 7 miles east of Housesteads. It’s an afterthought, built after 130AD when the wall had been completed. The mound can be identified south of the Military Road with a car park east of the fort. From the bold platform, you can see that there are extensive ruins under the grass. The Vallum goes straight through the fort, having been infilled. The headquarters building has been excavated and follows the usual form with 5 rooms at the back and a hall and courtyard, none of which is visible. West of the south west wall is the Bath House in a shallow valley. It is a smaller version of the bathhouse, which can be seen at Chesters

CARROWBURGH-SOUTH-WALL

Carrawburgh Roman Fort covers 3.9 acres. The north wall is under the road, but it is possible to identify the other walls. It was garrisoned by a mixed cavalry and infantry cohort of about 500 men. There has been little excavation of the site, and what has been done has been covered over.

CARROWBURGH-WEST-WALL

Temple of Mithras

Carrowburgh-Mithraism

Near Carrawburgh Roman Fort stands a fascinating temple to the eastern god Mithras, with facsimiles of altars found during excavation. Sited like many Mithraism temples near a military base. It was not found until 1949, as it was built partially underground and buried. It was built in the 3rd century, and eventually desecrated, probably by Christians.

CARROWBURGH-ALTERS

The remains of alters which would have been brightly coloured, are in the Hancock Museum in Newcastle. The temple had been vandalised possibly by Christians.

Coventina’s Well

As the bottom of slop outside the western gate of  Carrawburgh Roman Fort is the source of a strong spring and a very boggy area. Here the Romans dug a well 8ft square and 7 ft. deep within a walled 40ft enclosure with an entrance to the west, Coventina’s well.

COVENTINA’S-WELL

The well was discovered in 1876 by miners. It was excavated by John Clayton, who owned the land and John Collingwood Bruce, the original author of Hadrian’s Wall Handbook

13487 coins were found 4 gold, 184 silver and the balance bronze. Others are thought to have disappeared at the time of the discovery 3000 coins were melted down and cast as an eagle for Collingwood Bruce. The coins are in the British Museum.

In addition, slabs are dedicated to Coventina, 10 alters are dedicated to Coventina and Minerva, some blank alters 2 incense burners and many other offerings, which can now be seen in the Clayton Museum at Chesters Roman Fort.

The slabs and altars were packed into the well. The reason is a best guess, an edict from the emperor in 388 restricted pagan worship, they may have been put in the well to prevent them from being vandalised by Christians.

The well supplied the fort with water.