Birrens Roman Fort
BIRRENS-ROMAN-FORT-DIAGRAM-ON-AERIAL-VIEW-IDENTIFYING-BUILDING-UNDER-THE-GRASS
Location
It’s not easy to find Birrens Roman Fort, go north from Gretna on the A74 M, then take the second exit, cross the other road going east.left , over the rail bridge turn left to Middlebe ,about a mile on the left approving the fort from the south where the site has been eroded by the River Mein Water.OS reference: NY219 752.
Birrens-Roman-Fort-South-West looking East
It was 14 miles from Netherby and 26 miles from Carlisle via Netherby. It is on main road North in the West.
BIRRENS-AND-NW-FORTS
Excavation
The fort has been extensively excavated from 1895 to 1962; the results are shown on the diagram at the top, showing a typical 2nd/ 3rd fort in Northern Britain with Headquarters in the centre and the Commander’s house to the left.
Birrens-Roman-Fort-SW-mound-and-Wall
The fort is situated on a low mound easily identified, when approached from the South, with significant ditch defences to the North, and always a fort that would be the subject of attack.
Birrens-Roman-Fort-North-East-ditches
About the Fort
The fort was built and modified in various stages:
- The first fort was built by Agricola about 80AD for the first invasion of Scotland, with large annexes probably to accommodate the armies marching North
- Late 1st or early 2nd century Fort of 4 acres of turf and wood on the visible site, but not extending as far North.
- The stone Antonine Fort of 5.2 acres for the second Scottish invasion dating from 142AD with stone walls.
- An annexe was added possibly about this time to the West, enclosed by a triple ditch.
- The fort was destroyed in 155AD probably by a native uprising.
- The fort was rebuilt in 158AD
- A Mansio (superior guest house) in a courtyard house style, to the North West of the site.
- Abandoned about 184AD.
See historical background HERE
The first Agricola fort was built as part of the first Roman invasion of Scotland, part of moving the army North in the West. The Antonine Fort served the same purpose for the 2nd invasion in the 140sAD, possibly the reason for the annex.
The destruction of the fort possibly helps explain why the Romans withdrew after only 20 years of the Scottish occupation because the natives were never fully subdued with the number of troops available.
The withdrawal from Scotland was slow taking almost 30 years, with Hadrian’s Wall back in service by about AD160. The abandonment of Birrens was part of that process. There remained the fort at Netherby , which was occupied into the 4th century..
The Ditches on the North of the fort indicate that the fort is expected to be attacked.
Birrens-Roman-Fort-NE-Wall
The Garrison
The garrison in AD142 was a 1000 strong military cohort of Nervians, part mounted. This in theory consisted of 10 centuries of (80 men) infantry and 8 turmas (30 men) of cavalry. It had been recruited from various German tribes.
In AD 158 the garrison was 2nd Cohort of Tungrians again a part mounted 1000 cohort. It had been recruited from Eastern Belgium.
Birrens-Roman-Fort-Eastern-Wall
Inscriptions from the site can be found HERE