Trimontium
Location
Newstead Roman Fort lies on the south bank of the River Tweed, a mile and half east of Melrose, on a high bluff just east of the village of Newstead. You can see above crop marks in the yellow rape field, identifying the location of the fort. It is about 60 miles north of Corbridge up Dere St and 20 miles up Dere St from Cappuck
Go up the A68 over the roundabout leading to Melrose after 400m turn left towards the viaduct before you cross the Tweed. It is about half a mile to the monument
Newstead Roman Fort
This is probably the most important Roman Fort in “Scotland” over 120 years. It was built 4 times, abandoned 3 times and overran once and destroyed.
Agricolan Fort
Dere Street was the key to the invasion and had forts all the way north from Corbridge, and built to transport the army north along the eastern invasion route. The fort probably as an armed camp, later transformed into a premiere fort in south east “Scotland”.
The first fort was built by Agricola during his invasion of “Scotland”, probably in 79/80AD. The occupation of “Southern Scotland “had probably been completed by 82AD and the roads had been finished. It guarded the crossing of the River Tweed, by Dere St.
The construction of the fort was unusual. The four gates appear to be at right angles to the walls. This format is almost unique in “Scotland” (there is only one other example). The west of the fort had a double ditch and the eastern defences had a single ditch. They were about 5ft deep and 10ft wide. The above diagram illustrates the ditches and the location of the gates. It is almost certain that Agricola himself would have surveyed the location of the fort and its design. The base of the rampart was 23ft wide built of clay on cobbles with a wooden palisade on top. The fort had a cavalry presence.
The west facing fort covered 10.6 acres measuring 655ft by 705ft east to west, with a clear space of 50 ft. wide behind the ramparts.
Newstead Roman Fort was only occupied for a few years, with the withdrawal from “Scotland”.
Domitian Fort
Newstead Roman was reoccupied shortly after 90AD, and the remains of the first fort were demolished, and a new fort was built, but some of the ramparts were retained. This fort was larger with an area of 14.3 acres, measuring 760ft by 820ft. The ramparts again were unusually 45ft thick, indicating it was unusually high. Every indication was that it had very strong defences.
It was a large fort and one of the few still occupied by the mid-nineties, therefore were likely to be attacked. Remains of Legionary and ancillary equipment has been found, although no cohort has been identified.
All the main buildings at this period have been identified by excavation.
Occupation may have ended in disaster, in spite of the strong defences soon after 100AD. The buildings were burnt and human remains and quantities of equipment were buried in pits. The Romans very often burnt their abandoned forts, but the human remains indicate possibly enemy action.
This may have triggered the final withdrawal to the Stanegate frontier
Early Antoninan Fort
Antonine Pius became Emperor following the death of Hadrian (138AD). The decision was made to invade “Scotland” again. The roads were repaired after 40 years of neglect and Newstead Roman Fort was reoccupied and the 36ft rampart was faced by a 6ft stone wall. It covered 14.7 acres and measured 773ft by 830ft east west. In front of the wall were two ditches one 6ft wide 3ft deep and the other 8ft wide and 3.5ft deep, the outer ditch was 71ft from the wall and 38ft from the inner ditch
The aim was to trap the attacker between the ditches. The fort had a wall dividing the fort in two. with a gate between the two halves, confirming the presence of legionnaires and ancillaries.
The fort was commanded by a legionnaire centurion with troops from the 20th Legion and a cohort of cavalry, the Ala Augusta Vogontiorum, which occupied the northern section.
The southern part of the fort has been excavated.
Again the fort was abandoned. We can only guess as to why. It can be assumed that the first fort was built about 140AD or soon afterwards. At this time Southern “Scotland” was being occupied and pacified. Once this process had been completed and the legionary troops transferred to build the Antoninan Wall the fort was partially occupied and abandoned around 150AD
Late Antoninan Fort
Around 155AD there was military action in Scotland and Northern England, although no details are available except legionnaire contingents were brought north. In about158AD the decision to abandon the Antonine Wall was made, not in panic and not quickly. The fort was reoccupied for the fourth time probably about 158AD
. After being abandoned for about 10 years, extensive refurbishment would have been necessary. The rampart backing was increased to 54ft. The space behind the ramparts was reduced to a roadway. Three lines of ditches were recut at 19ft, 52ft and 81ft from the walls all V-shaped ditches over 10ft wide and 4ft deep.
The dividing wall demolished and all the interior buildings replaced. There was added a building that was probably a riding school next to HQ building 160ft long by 50ft wide. The fort was a cavalry fort with 24 turma (800 cavalrymen). Its purpose was probably to keep Dere St open.
The fort was occupied for the next thirty years. . The withdrawal was slow and Newsteads Roman Fort was possibly the last fort in “Scotland” to be abandoned no later than 196AD.
Annexes
Each period had an annexe, but it is difficult to always know which period they relate to. They were attached to every side of the fort except the north. All annexes had ditches and ramparts.
The Western annexe dates from the Agricolan fort and enclosed 7 acres, while the eastern annexe covered about20 acres and the southern annexe was a similar size,
The above illustration represents the site around 150AD with the early Antinomian Fort
The amphitheatre was probably built in the Antinomian period and could accommodate over 1000 people
What was in each annexe is not easy to determine. The western annexe includes a Mansio, best described as a hotel for senior staff visiting or passing through and there also was a bathhouse.
There was space for the camp followers which may at times become a settlement. It probably was a distribution centre for the forts in southern Scotland, including troop replacements. It would also be a stopover for convoys moving north and south.
Temporary Camps
The area is surrounded by a number of large temporary camps (more than could be shown on the above diagram); it was a major centre for all invasions with the exception of Severus in the third century.
In the centre of Melrose is the Trimontium Museum, which has been extended and renovated and is worth a visit. see the website Click Here
Newstead Roman Fort
the Roman’s called Trimontium because of the three hills.