Boothby Roman Fortlet south of the Irthing north of the Stanegate
Built when the frontier moved to the Stanegate and abandoned when the Wall was completed
Location
BOOTHBY-ROMAN-FORTLET-LOCATION
Boothby Roman Fortlet was built to the north of the Stanegate, near Boothby (CA8 2HB) on the road from Brampton to Lanercost Priory. The fortlet is on a ridge south of the River Irthing and north of the Stanegate. It was 3miles east of Brampton Old Church roman Fort and about 3 miles west of Nether Denton Roman Fort. It could predate the Stanegate, earlier than 75AD.
Details
Boothby-Roman-Fortlet-with-a-view-to-the-North
Boothby Roman Fortlet was built late 1st century/early 2nd century. It measured 250ft and 170ft aligned NNE/SSW, about an acre in area, suggesting a garrison of about 250, 3 centuries. It was probably surrounded by a ditch with beaten clay and wooden construction. The ditch has been identified as being 17ft wide and 6ft deep. A gate has been identified on the southern wall. It has been excavated once in 1933. Part of the northern part of the fortlet has been lost as a result of a landslide.
At that stage, the River Irthing was the frontier and the site had a very good view to the North. After Hadrian’s Wall was built 2 miles to the north it was abandoned as redundant.