Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Milecastle 39
Hob Uid: 15166
Location : Northumberland Henshaw
Grid Ref : NY7606067730
Summary : The site of Roman milecastle 39, part of the defences on Hadrian's Wall. The north gate, north wall and wing foundations were built first together with the foundations of the east wall and the butt end of the west wall, these foundations were later reduced and set in steps cut into the hillslope because of the steep slope. In earlier phases a long barrack stood on the west side with a row of small buildings on the east. Excavations in 1986 showed that the road that ran through the milecastle was restricted to 2 metres across by post holes on one side and barracks on the other. In the south-east corner was a stone oven and the south-west corner a rectangular building with a sunken floor associated with Roman finds. The south gate was found to be clay bonded whinstone boulders rather than the sandstobne blocks of the north gate which suggests that the south gate had no tower. The latest Roman buildings lay on the west side with doorways facing the east, these were then given curving porches that overlay the road. The north gateway was narrowed in Phase V; the milecastle appears to have been occupied until the late 4th century. In the 18th century a possible milking house was built in the west corner. The milecastle is now consolidated and the walls are up to 1.75 metres high.
More information : [NY 7606 6773] MILECASTLE 39 [G.S.] (Remains of) (1) Milecastle 39, was cleared in 1854. It measures 55ft E to W and 62ft N to S, with type II gates. The well preserved, side walls, 7ft thick have six or seven courses of stone standing. The foundations of a small barrack block remain on its western side. (2) As described and in good condition, with walls standing to a maximum height of 1.4m. Resurveyed at 1/2500. (3) The milecastle was excavated in 1908-11 and measured 61 feet 9 inches long by 49 feet 4 inches across on the north side, 51 feet 7 inches across on the south side (long axis). The gates were type II, the south gate measured 8 feet 5 inches wide at the entrance and was subsequently reduced in the second century to 4 feet wide. A building on the west side was found, 9 feet wide and 18 feet 6 inches long. There was very little stratified pottery, and the length of occupation is unknown (4a). It was subsequently re-excavated in 1982 (4b), 1985 (4c), 1986 (4d) and 1987 (4e). The north gate, north wall and wing foundations were built first together with the foundations of the east wall and the butt end of the west wall, these foundations were later reduced and set in steps cut into the hillslope because of the steep slope (4b). In earlier phases a long barrack stood on the west side with a row of small buildings on the east (4c). Excavations in 1986 showed that the road that ran through the milecastle was restricted to 2m across by post holes on one side and barracks on the other. In the south-east corner was a stone oven and the south-west corner a rectangular building with a sunken floor associated with Roman finds (4d). The south gate was found to be clay bonded whinstone boulders rather than the sandstobne blocks of the north gate which suggests that the south gate had no tower (4e). The latest Roman buildings lay on the west side with doorways facing the east, these were then given curving porches that overlay the road (4c). The north gateway was narrowed in Phase V (4b); the milecastle appears to have been occupied until the late 4th century (4c). In the 18th century a possible milking house was built in the west corner (4b). The milecastle at NY 7606 6773 is now consolidated, and the walls are up to 1.75m high. (4) Scheduled (5) Reference (6) The excavated stonework remains of milecastle 39 are visible on air photographs and were mapped as part of the Hadrian's Wall National Mapping Project. (7) Depiction from the James Irwin Coates Archive (1879) showing Castle Nick Milecastle. (8) Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (9)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : 6" 1957
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Handbook to Roman Wall 11th Edition 1957 (JC Bruce Ed IA Richmond)
Page(s) : 143
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : District of Tynedale, Northumberland: 27.7.87
Page(s) : 52
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : NMR NY 7667/37 (19856/52) 04-MAY-2000
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Source Number : 8
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Page(s) : 33
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Source Number : 9
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F1 DK 23-SEP-66
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Pete Topping/22-AUG-1988/RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project
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Source Number : 4a
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Source details :
Page(s) : 81-6
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Source Number : 4b
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Source details : Crow, J (ed. Frere, S S) 'Roman Britain in 1982'
Page(s) : 290-311
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Vol(s) : 14, 1983

Source Number : 4c
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Source details :
Page(s) : 378-81
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Vol(s) : 17, 1986

Source Number : 4d
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Source details : Crow, J (ed. Frere, S S) 'Roman Britain in 1986'
Page(s) : 316
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Vol(s) : 18, 1987

Source Number : 4e
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Source details : Crow, J (ed. Frere, S S) 'Roman Britain in 1987'
Page(s) : 434
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Vol(s) : 19, 1988

Source Number : 5
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Source details : 14-Jul-97
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Milecastle
Evidence : Ruined Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Hadrian's Wall Project Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 7667/6
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 26060
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 240770
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : ND 28
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Northumberland)
External Cross Reference Number : 6561
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 76 NE 11
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1854-01-01
End Date : 1854-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1908-01-01
End Date : 1908-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1911-01-01
End Date : 1911-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1966-09-23
End Date : 1966-09-23

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1985-01-01
End Date : 1987-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1988-01-01
End Date : 1993-08-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Milecastle 39