| Summary : Cropmarks of a Roman fort with outworks. Previously recorded with Fort B (SO 88 NE 1) now assigned unique identity. This complex of forts and camps just SW of Wolverhampton lies on and immediately W of a level S-projecting tongue of land at 65m above OD, between the small marshy valley of the Smestow Brook on the W and the broad shallow valley of the Dawley Brook on the E. The site lies at what seems to have been a nodal point in the Roman road system of the area, some 23km S of Watling Street, at an important crossing place of the Smestow, 550m N of its confluence with the Dawley. The greater part of the plateau between the streams is occupied by two double-ditched forts. That on the S, fort A, about 1.6ha in area, and with outworks to the N and E takes up the prime naturally defended position and is therefore probably the earlier. Its N counterpart, fort B, which was almost exactly the same size, possessed an annexe and outwork, and was probably later in date. From the very limited excavations undertaken, it seems that both may have been established within the Claudio-Neronian period. |
More information : This site has been re-assessed in connection with RCHME's survey and publication of Roman Camps in England. The following descriptive account is taken from the published text.
Previously recorded with Fort B (SO 88 NE 1) now assigned unique identity. This complex of forts and camps just SW of Wolverhampton lies on and immediately W of a level S-projecting tongue of land at 65m above OD, between the small marshy valley of the Smestow Brook on the W and the broad shallow valley of the Dawley Brook on the E. The site lies at what seems to have been a nodal point in the Roman road system of the area (Webster 1981, 79-80 (1a)), some 23km S of Watling Street, at an important crossing place of the Smestow, 550m N of its confluence with the Dawley.
The greater part of the plateau between the streams is occupied by two double-ditched forts (St Joseph 1966 (1b); Frere and St Joseph 1983, 96-9 (1c)). That on the S, fort A, about 1.6ha in area, and with outworks to the N and E (Wilson 1984, 51-2,55 (1d)), takes up the prime naturally defended position and is therefore probably the earlier. Its N counterpart, fort B, which was almost exactly the same size, possessed an annexe and outwork, and was probably later in date (Frere and St Joseph 1983, 96-9 (see auth 1c)). From the very limited excavations undertaken, it seems that both may have been established within the Claudio-Neronian period (CBA Group 8 West Midlands Archaeol News Sheet 11 (1968), 13; Webster 1981, 82 (see auth 1a)). Full information is included in the NMR Archive. (1)
Published source. (2) |