The Stanegate

Overview

The Stanegate was a Roman “M” grade road between Carlisle and Corbridge. It was built late in 1^st century, but the name is medieval in origin. The road varies from 16.5ft to 22ft a solid foundation of cobbles and stones a foot thick with 10 inches of gravel as its surface. It can be seen as a visible earthwork along some of its length. A number of milestones have been found measuring distances from Dere St at Corbridge.

It is thought that the road was later extended early in the 2nd century from Carlisle to Burgh and Drumburgh and on to Kirkbride

No road has been found east of Corbridge. Before the Wall there were no forts found east of Corbridge or north of Chester le Street until 50 years ago. Aerial photography identified a fort at Washing Wells, Wickham, a mile and a half south of the Tyne. This is explained in the Washingwells Guide.

History

As part of the info structure for the first invasion of Scotland, Governor Agricola built a road from Carlisle to Corbridge, linking invasion camps. The invasion would move north from Carlisle in the West and Corbridge in the East about 79AD. At that time there were probably three forts at that time at Carlisle, Vindolanda and Corbridge at Red House Farm.

When the road was built southern” Scotland” was occupied. Until Hadrian’s reign, the Roman idea of a border was far more fluid right across the empire.

The decision to withdraw was taken in about 87 AD with the withdrawal of the Adiutrix 11 Legion from Britain.

The withdrawal continued for about fifteen years until the Stanegate became almost by default the frontier because it was a line that could be defended. Additional forts were built at about 7 mile intervals, with fortlets between some forts.

In many cases, the border was a river, and from Throp to Old Church, it could be said that the River Irthing was the border following the final withdrawal from what became Scotland early in the 2^nd century. 

Stanegate Forts and Fortlets.

The Stanegate became the most northerly road and additional forts and fortlets were added. There were the forts (click to visit the webpage):

• Newbrough Roman Fort                  
• Corbridge Roman Forts, Town and Bridge
• Vindolanda Guide to the Visible Remains
• The Invisible Forts at Vindolanda
• HALTWHISTLE BURN FORTLET            
• Carvoran Magnis 
• Throp Roman Fortlet                                
• Nether Denton Roman Fort                     
• Boothby Roman Fortlet                           
• Brampton Old Church                            
• Lvgvvalivm Roman Fort and City Carlisle

When the Wall was built the sites on added the Stanegate were abandoned. The sites were added about 105 AD and abandoned about 125 AD.

Corbridge, Vindolanda, Carvoran and Carlisle were retained.

The big question is what happened after Corbridge, there is a road leaving Corbridge going east but after a few hundred yards it cannot be traced. There had to be at least a track that has not left an imprint.

Of course about 160AD, the military road was built just behind the Wall, linking the forts.