Greta Bridge Roman Fort
The Roman name was Maglona
Location
Greta Roman Fort located on Carlisle /York road
Greta Bridge Roman Fort was on the main road from Carlisle to Catterick and York. to control the road. It was 6 miles east of Bowes and about 18 miles west of Catterick. The fort was built to control the river crossing over the Greta, with the road north of the fort. The roads were very important, troops could be moved quickly and dispatch riders travel over 150 miles a day,.information could be sent and orders could be received from the legate in York, the provincial capital mostly within a day.
It is on a mound to the west of the river.
History
Greta Bridge Roman Fort was probably built about 80AD about the same time as the first road, there is little evidence. It was probably built in stone in the 2nd century, there is little evidence.
In the early 3rd century it was probably rebuilt, there is an inscription. It is likely occupied into the 4th century. A number of forts south of the forts were rebuilt or refurbished in this period.
Its size indicates an infantry cohort of about 500, and no evidence of which cohort occupied the fort.
Greta Bridge Roman Fort
Description
The fort covered 3.5 acres and measured 460 ft. by 312 ft. within the ramparts
GRETA-BRIDGE-ROMAN-FORT SOUTH EAST-RAMPART–
Greta Bridge Roman Fort has a hotel and spa built over the North West wall. The south eastern wall is visible from the bridge heading north. The Pennine Way goes from the road east and south of the fort. All the walls have a ditch in front of the ramparts with the exception of the south western ramparts. This has a double ditch, and the ramparts are most visible about 10 ft. high.
GRETA-ROMAN-FORT–SOUTHERN-RAMPART-LOOKING–EAST
The south western gate is visible under the turf. The mark inside the SE ramparts is modern.
GRETA-ROMAN-FORT-SOUTHGATE
Extra Mural Settlement.
North of the fort across the road was a civil settlement from 2nd century. Excavation have found before A66 (which was built on the Roman road for long stretches) was improved. The remains of the Roman road was found along with a large timber courtyard house and at least 12 rectangular strip houses
GRETA-ROMAN-SITE
The road survives as a cambered gravel surface nearly 40 ft. wide, later replaced in stone and flanked by stone lined drains. The road appears to have been originally built in the 1st century, with the stone added possibly in the 3rd century. There was a short link from the fort to the main road, which was important throughout Roman occupation.
South of the main road was courtyard house, which may have been a mutatio, a guest house for officers and guests of rank. It was burnt down in the 3rd century and reoccupied by the civil settlement.
The remains of the civil settlement survive as a series of timber and stone buildings, linked together by areas of paving and cobbling. They were aligned for some 600 yards along the north and south sides of the Roman road. The majority of the buildings were divided into two parts, with a large hall fronting onto the roadside and a rear room, thought to be the domestic accommodation.
Several of the buildings also had a portico on the front, suggesting that this part of the building was used for commercial activity. Two areas of the vicus were uncovered and partially excavated in the 1970s.
West of the Greta
The first lies 200 yards North West of the fort on the west bank of the Tutta Beck. In this area, two stone buildings, thought to form part of a larger complex, were uncovered. The buildings had been constructed over the remains of earlier features. The first building was 85 ft. by 20ft and the second was 22 ft. and of uncertain length. Roman pottery and coins recovered from the partial excavation of this area suggests occupation in the third and early fourth century. These buildings are thought to represent the western limit of the settlement.
Roman Strip House
East of the Greta
The second Greta Bridge Roman Fort examined in the 1970s lies to the east of the River Greta some 600 ft. north east of the fort. A total of 11 stone buildings were observed lying on both sides of the Roman road. Four lies to the north and range in length from 30 ft. to 70ft long by 20 ft. to 25 ft. wide. Seven buildings were observed lying to the south of the road, measuring from 65 ft. to 25 ft. long by 20 ft. to 24 ft. wide.
The evidence from Roman pottery and coins suggests that this part of the settlement was occupied from the mid to late second century and during the fourth century. Evidence of important ironworking was also recovered from this part of the settlement on an area adjacent to the road. It is thought to have been small scale in nature and related to the production of nails and iron fitments for buildings.
To the east of this part of the settlement produced some evidence of cremation burials; the existence of burials, which are normally located beyond the limit of the settlement. It is thought to indicate that this is the eastern limit of the vicus at Greta Bridge.
The full extent of the settlement is not yet understood and further remains may survive beyond the area of protection.