Stanwix Roman Fort
STANWIX-ROMAN-FORT-LOCATION
Location
The Stanwix Roman Fort lies on higher ground north of the River Eden in Carlisle only half a mile from Luguvalium under Carlisle Castle, 5 miles from Burgh in the west and 8 miles from Castlesteads in the east. The fort was the largest on the Wall with an area of nearly 10 acres and measuring about 600ft by 700ft. There is little information to go on, as the northern suburbs of Carlisle are built over it. Uxelodunum means “high fort”. Petriana refers to its garrison.
STANWIC-ROMAN-FORT-FROM-THE-SOUTH-WEST
The Vallum was over brow very close to the fort wall.
Stanwix-Roman-Fort–Central-Position
This location was pivotal for control of the West; forces could be rapidly dispatched north, east and west to cover any possible threat. Within 2 hours Petriana cavalry could be close to Birrens in the north, Birdoswald in the west, Old Penrith in the south and Bowness in the west. The fort covers a vital crossing of the River Eden, which was located 300 yards downstream from the bridge you see today.
Detail
The fort went through three major phases:
- A small turf and timber fort built circa 120sAD built, as part of the turf Wall built west of the River Irthing built at that time in the west.
- A stone replacement was built probably in 160sAD when the turf wall was replaced with a stone wall.
- This fort was enlarged with extensions to the north and west to house a large cavalry regiment towards the end of the second century.
There are almost no visible remains, except a mark in a car park near the North West corner of the fort, in the grounds of the Cumbria Park Hotel on Scotland Rd.
Garrison
Roman-Cavalry-near-Stanwix
The first garrison is unknown, with the expanded fort came the ala Petriana milliaria, who occupied Stanwix Roman Fort for the next 250 years. It’s named after Titus Pomponius Petra, who was probably the original commander of the unit shortly after it was raised from the tribes of central Gaul at the turn of the first century AD. This cavalry regiment probably came to Britain with Governor Cerialis in 70/ 71AD as part of the force to occupy the Brigantian territory in the north of England. For a time it was probably at Corbridge and later possibly at Old Penrith. All members of the regiment were given Roman citizenship for gallantry in action, and future honours were added. Probably as a result of these honours, it was increased in size to about 800 troopers adding Milliaria to its title
. As a result, it was the elite regiment of ancillaries in Britain. There appears to have been only one per province, but less than 12 in total. .Such a regiment had a Tribune to command, who was the highest-ranking officer in the ancillary army. It was organised into 24 turma (troops) of 32 men. He would probably be responsible to the Legate of the 6th Legion at York.
East of the site is an extensive clay platform of about 7.5 acres, which is thought to be the parade ground. The Vallum has been found close to the fort and changes direction to enclose the fort. Obviously a wealthy cavalry regiment would have an extramural settlement, in spite of Roman Carlisle being just over the river. To the west of the fort north of the Brampton Rd the remains of wooden buildings have been found and also east of the fort.
Read more about Roman Cavalry