More information : [NY 9873 6869] GATEWAY [G.S.] (Site of) (1)
This is the point where the ancient Dere Street, running from north to south, crosses the wall at right angles. "It is likely that the passage of Dere Street through the wall was fortified: and in Horsley's day (2a) there seems to have been visible remains of a fortification here. He says, ' there has been a square castellum, half within the wall and half without.' There is a suggestion even today that the ditch of the wall turned northward round such a building". (2)
There are faint traces of the Wall ditch on each side of Dere Street but the area has been badly mutilated by tree planting and modern drainage ditches. Immediately to the east of Dere Street there is a suggestion that the ditch turned north and followed the road for a short distance but this effect is probably due to modern drainage. Perambulation of the vicinity of the cross-roads revealed no trace of any earthworks or remains that could be associated with the 'castellum' mentioned by Horsley. (3)
No change. (4)
The north face of the west tower of the Portgate was exposed in the verge a few inches North of the kerb of the B6318, close to its intersection with A68 (Dere Street), during excavations by the M.P.W.B., directed by Miss D. Charlesworth. (5)
No trace. There are modern road improvements to form a new roundabout, but the latter does not impose on the site of Portgate which is situated beneath the old road surface (now stranded). (6) |