Location
KIRBY-THORE-ROMAN FORT AND TOWN
Kirby Thore Roman Fort and Town is located on the main road from Carlisle south east to York.(along the A66 which partly covers the Roman road) It was the junction between this road and the Maiden Way running North to Whitley Castle, just north of Alston. Then on to Carvoran on Hadrian’s Wall 25 miles to the North. It is about 5 miles south east of Brougham on the Carlisle road, from where roads joint from Ribchester to the South and Ambleside/ Ravenglass to the South East
History
Kirby Thore Roman Fort and Town was a cavalry fort and was positioned so that it could patrol this extensive road network, particularly the Maiden Way. The Cavalry forts on the Wall cover the road junctions in a similar way. The fort was first occupied before the 80s AD and built as a turf and timber fort, destroyed in 125AD ( reason unknown) and rebuilt in stone. The site covered about 5 acres, about the size of 500 man cavalry ala or regiment and occupation certainly continued into the 4th century.
KIRBY-THORE-FORT-&-VICUS
Probably in the 2nd century, a civilian settlement was built around the fort and eventually covered 36 acres. The quality of the buildings was high and overall it can best be called a small town, which appears to be walled. Most Roman towns in Britain were walled in the latter part of the 3rd century including Carlisle and Corbridge.
KIRBY-THORE-ROMAN-SITE-LOOKING-NORTH-FROM-MAIN-ST
Kirby Thore Town Wall NW corner geophysics
Kirby Thore Roman Fort and Town was positioned to control the Maiden Way, with the ore shipments from the lead mines and the road to Hadrian’s Wall at Carvoran Roman Fort. In addition, it was necessary to police the main Carlisle to York road, which the cavalry was equipped to do.
KIRBY-THORE-ROMAN-SITE-NORTH-WEST-OF-THE-VILLAGE
Cavalrymen were better paid, therefore there was more money available to develop the town.