A Roman Fort with an unknown Roman Name
Location
From Cockermouth move north on the A595, continuing through Bothel after about one and a half miles turn left signposted Blennerhasset After 300yds look for a clump of tree on the right and you are just south of the Southgate of the Roman fort. There is nothing to see, it’s on a slope descending north to the River Ellen.
Blennerhasset History
Blennerhasset is an unusual site as there is almost no attempt to use the landscape as a defence, indicating a likely pre-Agricolan fort. Tacitus tells us that Agricola as Governor (78 to 84AD) inspected and choice every fort site himself based on its strategic position. Pottery finds found after ploughing date from 65 to 75AD found in 1988 by local volunteers. It is possible that its location may relate to an Iron Age enclosure north west of the fort with religious significance, predating the fort.
It has been generally understood that West Cumbria was by-passed during the northern invasion, now more likely after Agricola became governor. Read more
Cerialis was appointed Governor of Britain in 71AD with the task of occupying Northern England. First York was established followed by Brigantia cover Yorkshire and Lancashire. By 72/3 AD Cerialis was at Carlisle where a fort was built.at the capital of the Carvettii, controlling Cumbria. The question remains which other Roman forts were built in this initial conquest period say 73to 75AD. Cerialis’ governorship finished in 74AD, and the next phase of conquest was directed at Wales.
Blennerhasset has to be the first choice based on the pottery finds. Kirkbride, Old Carlisle and Caermote are other possibilities, but with no dating evidence.
If we accept that there was a fort at Blennerhasset before 78AD, it is unlikely to be on its own nearly 20 miles from Carlisle, over 10 miles south of Kirkbride and 4 miles from Caermote (possibly to exploit lead mining)
It was a large fort of 6.5 acres, sufficient for two infantry cohorts, and besides controlling the Western Cumbria plain, were probably involved in road building.
There is no information as to when it was abandoned, it is 300yards North West of what became the main Carlisle/ Papcastle Roman road and with its poor strategic location it may have been abandoned as early the 80s AD.
The Fort at Blennerhasset
Blennerhasset was surrounded by significant defensive ditches with 3 rows, which designed not to disturb a tribal Iron Age enclosure in the North West corner.
As stated it covers 6.5 acres, with probably 5 entrances, with the west wall having 2 entrances. The fort measured 580ft by 460ft inside.
An extensive geophysics survey was undertaken in 2013, details from which are shown above, although there has been no excavation.
The ditches surrounding the fort were extensive with 3 rows of ditches covering nearly 40% of the area of the interior.
The ramparts are likely to be turf and wood, but without excavation, it cannot be confirmed.
Internal buildings have been seen on the geophysics but not identified