Corbridge the Most Northern Town in The Roman Empire
It was generally known as Coris, meaning meeting place in Celtic, indicating the place had a Celtic significant pre Roman. This is one of the discoveries from the Vindolanda tablets.
What can be seen today are the ruins of the town developed from about 160 AD,
till the end of the 4th century. Corbridge Roman Town started with a fort in 85 AD.
The Forts
In 69AD when Vespasian became emperor, he instructed Cerialis to go to Britain as Governor and conquer the northern province of England, occurred by the Brigantes tribes. Vespasian would have had detailed knowledge about Britain having been a legate of one of the invading legions. Cerialis started the invasion from York, while Agricola as legate of the XX legion moved up the west coast and a fort was established at Carlisle in 72AD. Soon after it is possible that forts were established at Vindolanda and Corbridge.
First Fort
The first fort identified appears to have been built about 77AD and was located at Redhouse Farm half a mile west of the current site, but there are indications that some of the interior building had an earlier stage, possibly dating back to the early 70’s AD. The fort covered 25 acres and was 3 times larger than any of the subsequent forts along the Wall. It had turf and wooden walls enclosing the wooden structures inside. It was probably built as the base camp for Julius Agricola’s (then governor of Britain) invasion of Scotland. It was abandoned once that function had been fulfilled. (Brief History of the Wall)
The possibility of supplying the invasion battlegroup up the Tyne heading north is considered here, About 20,000 men would have been involved in the invasion. The changes to the Tyne to make it navigate could have been justified for an army. There is no evidence, as the Tyne would have destroyed it over the two thousand years.
The site is bisected by the A69. In about 80AD a road was built from Carlisle to Corbridge, called the Stanegate after the end of Roman occupation, and Dere Street from York to the Firth of Forth about the same time.
Second Fort
A second fort was built soon after (AD86) on the current site of possibly about 7 acres again of turf walls with wooden palisades surrounding wooden buildings, housing the ala Petriana unit of cavalry 500 men strong.
Close to Corbridge, a tombstone was found of Flavinus a standard-bearer of the regiment, now located in Hexham Abbey. Click to see the bottom of the page
The fort was moved to cover the junction of the two roads and the important Tyne crossing. The Stanegate has been found for only a few hundred yards east of Corbridge.
There has been much discussion as to how supplies reached Corbridge from the East, the best suggestion is that there was a branch road from Dere Street south of the Tyne, and even that smaller boats were winched up weirs built into the Tyne to bring supplies to Corbridge, but as yet were is no evidence.
A Vindolanda tablet identifies a contingent of 337 Tungrians who were all posted here from Vindolanda.
This fort was burnt down around AD105, probably by enemy action, along with several other border forts. This is the only evidence.
Third Fort
Possible as a result of this enemy action, Corbridge was re-established quickly as part of the Stanegate border
The third fort replaced it and was a similar size and construction. This formed part of the pre- Wall frontier defences, along the Stanegate, where a series of forts were built along the road to Carlisle. It was a major fort and guarded the crossing of the Tyne.
It is likely that Corbridge was used as a depot during the building of the fort, in a similar way that Vindolanda, and Carlisle were used.
The initial concept of the Wall was to station major units in forts south of the Wall, with troops manning the milecastles and turrets. It is 2.5 miles south of the Wall.
Once the decision was made to move the forts onto the Wall a few years later, the fort was of less significance, although it is not abandoned. It is possible that a legionary present was maintained. There were some alterations to the interior of the fort under Hadrian.
Fourth Fort
When Antoninus Puis came to the throne the decision was made to move the frontier north to the Clyde Forth isthmus the Antonine Wall in 139. Corbridge again attained importance as the junction of the Stanegate, Dere St and the Tyne crossing, and again as a depot for the invasion
Therefore a fourth and last fort was built within turf ramparts with stone buildings. Further modifications were undertaken in 158 AD. and the frontier began the move back to Hadrian’s Wall.
In 160’s the function of Corbridge changed, the ancillary garrison was transferred, and detachments of VI and XX legions stationed here within the old fort, involved in controlling Dere Street to the north and the supply bases for the remaining forts along the street, becoming a market for the North Eastern garrisons The demolition was undertaken on a piecemeal basis as the area became needed for other buildings. Only the headquarters building and the prefect’s house was retained, and is the only remnant of the fort still visible.
Corbridge Roman Town
What can be seen today are the ruins of the town developed from about 160 AD till the end of 4th century. As post-Roman generations moved away from the site, it is one of the few examples of a Roman town which has not been lost under more modern buildings. The current English Heritage site just covers the town centre. The town extended into the fields surrounding the site in every direction and covered about 50 acres, based on excavations undertaken before the First World War.
There has been no investigation for 35 years, until 2015/2017, when a modern geophysics Survey was undertaken, using the latest technology. This confirmed the extent of the town. An excavation was undertaken in 2019 in a sports field north east of the English Heritage Corbridge site. Unfortunately, this was curtailed by heavy rain, but Dere Street was identified
Building started soon after 160AD. Enemy action curtained development about AD180. The town developed over the next century and was probably the regional capital for North East England with a possible population similar to Corbridge today.
A Mid-2nd century with its fort
B Early 3rd century, developing town
C End of 3rd century walled town, by this time most towns in Britain had Walls, Corbridge’s need was greater than most.
Corbridge is one of only a few towns in the north of “England”. It is difficult to define a town. Perhaps a community with monumental Buildings was a simple definition, and compared to today they were villages. unless you consider the Vicus at Housesteads a town it was the most Northerly town in the Empire. This has to be the subject of another Guide.
This is one of the few Roman towns, which is largely not built over. The town seems to be occupied through to the early 5th century when it appeared to decline quickly.
The Granaries
As bread was a significant part of the soldiers’ diet two large granaries were built. The floor in the granaries was raised so that air could circulate underfloor to keep the grain in good condition and deter vermin.
The walls were supported by buttresses and vent slits in the walls so the air could flow under the grain. Pillars supported a portico, where grain could be loaded. Only the loading bay for the eastern granary is visible.
They replaced the granaries, which were in the fort, in the early 3rd century, possibly for Emperor Septimius Severus’s invasion of Scotland in 208AD.
Stanegate /Main Street
This runs straight through the town and is lined with buildings. To the west, it originally crossed Dere St in what became the outskirts of the town. The Stanegate continued north of the Tyne till it reaches Carlisle. It had been resurfaced many times over the year, as a result, it was necessary to step down to some of the older buildings. The street was probably laid down in 85AD and last resurfaced last in the fourth century.
This shows the granaries on the left and civil buildings on right, on the Stanegate looking east, joining Dere St just over the fence heading North.
After the granaries are the remains of the aqueduct coming from a spring north of the town to the fountain on Main St. It was built around the end of the 3rd century.
Water was piped to other locations particularly the military compounds on the south side of the town, where the fountains and tank aerated the water and let the impurities settle. Water from the aqueduct and roofs was disposed of by a comprehensive drainage system taking the waste down to the Tyne
Site 11 (named as such during 1906 excavations and the name has stuck)
This is a large unfinished square building (measuring 220ft by 215ft), whose purpose is unknown. The quality of the workmanship is good, if not grand with large stone blocks. This monumental building was intended to be important. The entrance was in the middle of the building on Main St, with drains underneath it. The frontage on Main St was probably used for shops, with 14 ft deep blocks around a large central courtyard.
The best guess is that it was to be a market and storage depot for Western section of Hadrian’s Wall.
The idea that it was to be a legionary headquarters is possible, but as no other building relating to a fortress have been found, it is less likely.
It was started in 160/170s AD and work stopped before the centre was levelled and the last fort buildings now in the courtyard were demolished. The reason it was abandoned is not clear
South of Main Street
In the centre of the town were two military compounds thought to be occupied by contingents from 2nd Legion based in South Wales and the 20th century based in Chester. It is not certain which legion occupied which compound. These compounds may have been the catalyst for the development of the town. In addition, there was a need for local civil government, as seen at Aldborough in Yorkshire, which these compounds may have fulfilled.
You may wonder why there were two compounds, there were even inscriptions hoping for harmony between the competing legionary contingents. legionnaires became increasingly loyal to their legion, which caused friction with other units.
The Eastern Military Compound
The military compound is situated south of Main St. It extended into the field south of the site fence. It was walled but was small compared to the forts.
The main entrance was on Side St. off Main St to the west of the compound. Inside the compound wall are 2 houses of significant size, probably for senior visiting officers. There are small barracks and workshops further East
South East is a small Headquarters building with meeting rooms to the North.
On the Stanegate are civil buildings, outside the compound.
Side St
This is the street south of Main St( the Stanegate) which originally divided the military compounds. When the compounds were combined in probably in the late 3rd century it was walled in. There are 2 deep drains which shows the Roman‘s good drainage system. It is possible to see some subsidence where the structure is sinking as the wall had been built over the several forts.
After the legion formations disappeared in the fourth century the compounds were merged.
The Western Military Compound
Again some of the compound is in the field south of the site. This compound is dominated by workshops, which replaced the barracks built here when the compound was originally constructed. It has been estimated that the barracks housed 160 men, which is two Roman centuries. Perhaps the soldiers were later accommodated in the town. To the south of the workshops is a small temple, which predates the compound.
The main entrance was on Side St and the compound was walled. It has to be assumed that this was a service depot from the Eastern Wall, involving iron working with hearths and tanks identified. Spears and arrowheads were also found. The Side St was later walled in and it became one military compound
The headquarters building had a hall with a high ceiling like a church nave leading to the shrine with offices on either side. Compared to the forts on the Wall, the building was small and had a totally different design. From the shrine steps lead down to the strong room, its size suggests that Corbridge may have been a base for cash distribution to the Wall forts.
The building was later extended to the north including a room with underfloor heating.
In the North West corner outside the walls of the compound were civil buildings and a pottery shop.
The Bridge
This is possibly the largest Roman Bridge built in Britain. It was built in 160AD. It was 154 yards long and had as many as 11 stone arches supporting a road 30 ft. above the river. The road was 20 ft wide and the piers were 15 ft wide. The waterways between the piers were 22 ft. Dere St approach the bridge at right angles from just west of Corbridge cemetery and there was a long gradual ramp up to the bridge. It was a large bridge even by today’s standards. The Roman Bridge was significantly higher and wider than the current bridge.
There had to be a bridge before 160AD, no trace has been found, but that is not surprising, the last 250 years have seen two major bridges destroyed by the Tyne floods. It is very possible that a Roman was destroyed. The very size and height of the bridges indicate that it was built to withstand the worse that the river can do to destroy it.
Most bridges in Britain had a wooden superstructure, this bridge was built totally of stone, and as a result, it would have been very difficult to destroy by enemy action.
The course of the river has changed over the centuries and the bridge started 30ft from the current bank. In 2004 the ramp was excavated by Tyne & Wear Museum and English Heritage and 300 large blocks were extracted from 6 ft below the current river bank to avoid the threat of erosion.
These have been placed on the river bank about 300 yards from where they were found. Stone from the bridge was used in Hexham Abbey and more recently at the mill at Dipton.
The bridge was used until at least the 6th century when the rampart of the bridge was undermined by the river and collapsed.
Museum
Click Highlights from the museum can be found here.
There is also a gallery
Visit their website
Inscriptions found on site HERE