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Historic England Research Records

Milecastle 40

Hob Uid: 15302
Location :
Northumberland
Henshaw
Grid Ref : NY7456067580
Summary : The site of milecastle 40, part of the defences on Hadrian's Wall. Simpson's excavations found the remains of the milecastle to be greatly disturbed but the south wall was still ten courses high; it measured 60 feet north-south by about 49 feet east-west with type II gates. No satisfactory plan of the interior buildings was recovered, although there are possible buildings in the west half. There were considerable signs of rebuilding. The milecastle can be seen as turf-covered rubble banks up to 1.0 metres high; there are also the possible remains of an oven on the east side, though this is not in the position planned by Simpson. The milecastle is of the long axis type.
More information : [NY 7456 6758] Milecastle [G.S.] (site of)
Excavated A.D. 1908. (1)

Milecastle 40, just below the top of the Winshields, was excavated in 1908. It measures internally 55ft from east to west, and 62ft north to south. Scheduled. (2-3)

The remains are in poor condition and consist of rubble and turf-covered banks, now considerably spread and mutilated.
Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (4)

The site of the milecastle has been made obvious by the 'robber trenches' and spoil from stone-grubbing activity, but the whole is meaningless in terms of original remains. (5)

A detailed description of early excavations and finds has been published by Simpson. Simpson's excavations found the remains of the milecastle to be greatly disturbed but the south wall was still ten courses high; it measured 60 feet north-south by about 49 feet east -west with type II gates. No satisfactory plan of the interior buildings was recovered although there are possible buildings in the west half. There were considerable signs of rebuilding. (6)

Milecastle 40 (Winshields)
The milecastle can be seen as turf-covered rubble banks up to 1.0m high; there are also the possible remains of an oven on the east side, though this is not in the position planned by Simpson (see Authority 6, Plate IV). The milecastle is of the long axis type. (7)

Scheduled (8)

Reference (9)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (10)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 25" 1921
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Handbook to Roman Wall 11th Edition 1957 (JC Bruce, ed. IA Richmond)
Page(s) : 147
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Ancient Monuments England & Wales 1935 (Ministry of Works)
Page(s) : 76
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Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : F1 DK 16-JUN-1966
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F2 RWE 11-MAY-1972
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Source Number : 6
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Source details :
Page(s) : 86-98
Figs. :
Plates : IV
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Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : Mark Bowden/25-FEB-1988/RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project
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Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : 14-Jul-97
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Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : District of Tynedale, Northumberland: 27.7.87
Page(s) : 52
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Source Number : 10
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Source details :
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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 : Earthwork

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Hadrian's Wall Project Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 7467/5
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 26062
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 : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 240770
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 76 NW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1908-01-01
End Date : 1908-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1966-06-16
End Date : 1966-06-16
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1972-05-11
End Date : 1972-05-11
Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1988-01-01
End Date : 1993-08-01
Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2014-01-01
End Date : 2014-12-31