Bowness on Solway Roman Fort is situated in North West Cumbria on a low flat promontory formed of clay rising to 50 ft. above the Firth of Solway.

It is at the point furthest west that the Firth can be forded. It is the western terminal of Hadrian’s Wall, although the defences continue 40 miles south along the coast till just south of Maryport, consisting of turrets and milecastle, but no wall. The fort is almost completely buried under the modern village and there are no visible remains.

See the Northern Cumbrian Defences Here

It was the second largest fort on the Wall with an area of 5.8 acres 616 ft. long and 420 ft. wide, but other lesser sources say 7 acres. The above gives a rough guide to the fort’s location facing North West looking across the Solway to the Scottish coast, under the village. Although shown there was probably not a northern gate. Milecastle 80 is lost under the fort with the move of the forts to the Wall.

The first fort was built of turf and wood probably towards the end of the 120s AD. Like with the entire western wall it was replaced with stone probably about 40 years later. The configuration of the interior of the fort was probably similar to all the Wall forts, later changes are not known.

The size of the fort and the fact that an altar was dedicated by a tribune indicated it was a large garrison, possibly about 800 with 10 centuries, or a large mixed cohort, taking account of the fort’s location and the need to cover the defences south down the coast, with possibly 250 cavalry.

See Bowness artefacts