Location
MORESBY ROMAN FORT CUMBRIAN-COASTAL-DEFENCES
Moresby Roman Fort is located on the coast south of the formal Western Defences, which linked Beckfoot, Maryport and Burrow Wall with turrets and milefortlets and a possible palisade between the forts.( see Guide)
It is 2 miles north of Whitehaven (CA28 6PJ) and 5 miles south of Burrow Walls Roman Fort ( see Guide)
Moresby Roman Fort is on a low flat hill surrounded on all sides except the south, by steep cliffs on 3 sides, It overlooks the sea. St Bees is 5 miles to the south.
Ravenglass Roman Fort (Guide) is about 18 miles to the South.
St Bridget’s Church is outside the fort’s Eastgate, and the cemetery covers the east of the fort.
The fort measures 258ft by 440ft, an area of 3.5 acres, rather small for a mixed cavalry and infantry cohort. It was built in stone and is identified as a small mound on the south and west sides.
MORESBY-ROMAN-FORT-LOCATION
History
Moresby Roman Fort was built probably built after 130AD by the 20th Legion. The commander’s house was thought to be close to the north wall and the fort faced the sea. On the south was a civil settlement although there has been little excavation.
MOREBY ROMAN FORT ST-BRIDGET-CHURCH
The Garrison
The first garrison was identified as the Second Cohort of the Lingones probably in the 2nd century. The cohort came from Dijon in France and was a mixed cohort.
They appear to have been replaced by the 2nd Cohort of Thracians probably to the end of Roman control. The cohort was raised in Macedonia and Bulgaria.