Hardknott Roman Fort is there as you come over the pass at and look down into Eskdale, several hundred feet below you will Hardnott Roman Fort. Situated on a ledge above the Eskdale Valley. It is 800ft above sea level and the second highest Roman fort In England, after Whitley Castle in East Cumbria.

Hardknott Roman Fort

Hardknott  Roman Fort from the Pass Click the picture to view

The fort is square unlike most forts at this time and covered about 2.7acres. It is thought to have been built about 110AD and occupied for about 20/30 years.

Hardknott Roman Fort Map

It covers the road from the fort at Ambleside to Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast. The fort was garrisoned 4^th Cohort of Dalmatians, from the Balkans, consisting of 500 infantry and would have had difficulty fitting in this size of fort.

The ruins appear well preserved but, it largely reconstructed from stone on site in the 19^th century. It was abandoned, when the garrisons were withdrawn from the Wall. It was reoccupied in the mid of the 2^nd century and finally abandoned at the beginning of the 3^rd century.

Hardknott Roman Fort

The Walls

North West Wall                                      Westgate                                            Southgate                                            

Although a small fort, it had all you would expect of a 2^nd century fort.

Headquarters Building

This was a typical headquarters building, if small. It had a courtyard, with the remains  a tribunal platform, where the cohort could be addressed, Behind was the trans hall across the building with 3 rooms behind it, including  the cohort shrine, where the standard was stored, and perhaps an alter

The Commandant’s House

The commandant was a member of the equestrian order, just below the senators. The house would have accommodation for the C O’s family and visiting guests. It was also the CO‘s office and used for his meeting.

The Granary

The fort had 2 granaries, which stored the garrison’s staple food grain. They were long buildings with thick outer walls, which were heavily buttressed, presumably it support the weight of their superstructure and slate roof. The grain was stored in sacks or bins on raised floors.

The Bathhouse

Most forts had a Bath House outside the fort, because of fire risks, here it is just down the hill from the fort. There were 2 furnaces, one close to the hot room and the second next to the sauna.

Here you can see the road from Ambleside descend down the pass to the fort.