More information : SK 628 991 A Roman fort was discovered at Rossington during air reconnaissance in 1968. Crop marks revealed the line of two ditches along the greater part of the east side and at the rounded NE and SE angles. Traces of one or two ditches were detected, though less clearly, at points on the south, west and north sides. The fort measured 1025 ft by 860 ft with an area of 23 acres. St Joseph said that the advantageous position of the fort, its large size and two ditches resembled Longthorpe (TL 19 NE 34) and Newton-on-Trent forts (SK 87 SW 8). (1)
Crop marks visible on AP but stereo cover not available. (2)
The fortress is defined by a double ditch on its eastern side and at the SE and NE angles; elsewhere it consists of a single ditch only. A central entrance was visible on the east side in the 1976 drought. Riley thought it possible that his photograph of the site showed traces of what could be a system of outlying ditches beyond the eastern defences similar to those known at Osmanthorpe (SK 65 NE 14) and Newton on Trent (SK 87 SW 8). The site is classified as a vexillation fortress by Frere and St Joseph. (3-5)
Discussion of Roman fort out works. (6)
It is suggested the fort is pre-Flavian, possibly relating to a campaign carried out by Caesuis Nasica c.AD 60. (7)
The Roman fort described above is visible as cropmarks on air photographs, centred at SK 628 9906.
The feature appears to be double ditched on its eastern side and south east and north east corners. Elsewhere the circuit is visible as a greatly interrupted single ditch.
There is a potential entrance visible half way along the east side.
To the east a narrow linear ditch runs parallel to the eastern side of the fort. Toward the south the feature is no longer parallel to the ditches of the fort. It is possible that this feature represents the remains of a defensive outwork similar in form to the one visible at Greensforge Roman fort (see authority 6 above). It is however possible that the feature may be part of the `brickwork' field system recorded immediately to the east (see record SK 69 NW 27 / UID 620406).
(8)
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