Old Penrith Roman fort was first built to defend the road to Carlisle from York in the 70s AD.
The fort was located on the A6, 5 miles north of Penrith on the main road North West of the Pennines and 13 miles south of the fort at Carlisle. From south of Old Penrith Roman Fort, there is a road heading south west to a fort at Troutbeck 7 miles east of Keswick
OLD-PENRITH-Roman-Britain-LIDAR
The road probably continues south west to Troutbeck Roman Fort, and south through St John’s in the Vale to Thirlmere. Then on to Grasmere/Rydal and finally to Ambleside Roman Fort.
OLD-PENRITH-ROMAN-FORT-NE-CORNER
Today you can see it from A6 as a mount in a field north of a large farm. It was probably occupied from the 1st century (before 80 AD) to 300 AD. There are no details but was probably 3 to 4 acres. There was a civilian settlement till 300 AD at which point the garrison was too small to support it.
OLD-PENRITH-ROMAN-FORT-EASTGATE
Although there is little information about the fort, the inscription found gives us details about the garrison. From at least 178AD the 2nd cohort of Gauls garrisoned the fort (probably 480 infantry in 6 centuries and 4 turma of cavalry totalling 120 from northern and central France. They arrived in Britain early in Hadrian’s reign (circa 120 AD). They were transferred out in 274 AD when the separatist Gallic Empire was taken back under central control. It is possible that they were at Old Penrith the whole time. They appear to have been replaced by a unit of German mercenaries of which nothing is known.
Inscriptions found on the site click here