More information : (NZ 264646) MC 3 (Milecastle) (1)
(NZ 26406466) MILECASTLE 3 (R) (site of) (NAT) (2)
The presumed site of Milecastle 3 stood at the north end of Stephen Street, Byker, overlooking and guarding the deep ravine of Ouseburn. During the 18th century the foundations of the 'castellum' or 'square fort' were observed by Stukeley (who shows it in a sketch) and Horsley, but Brand in 1789 noted that many of the stones were taken from the foundations "many years ago, to build an adjoining house". MacLauchlan in 1858 "could not discern any traces to be depended upon" and therefore omitted the position from his survey map. Collingwood Bruce described a small, partly illegible, altar dedicated by Julius Maximus, found about 90-100 ft from the east end of Byker Bridge in 1884, at or near the presumed site of Milecastle 3 Bruce searched the area a few days after the find but could not trace any Roman remains. Grace Simpson stated that her father, F G Simpson measured the approximate distance from the centre of MacLauchlan's Milecastle 2 (NZ 26 NE 25) to the presumed site of Milecastle 3 as 1,450 yds in 1928. (3-4)
Several exploratory trenches prior to and during the building of the Metro flyover in this area found no trace of the wall, or the Milecastle (a). Confirmed by Mowlem's site engineer. (5)
(The altar is now recorded separately, see NZ 26 SE 227)
NZ 264 647. Presumed site of milecastle 3 at Shields Road West. Scheduled No TW/28. (6) |