Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Skinburness Milefortlet 9
Hob Uid: 9632
Location : Cumbria Allerdale Silloth-on-Solway
Grid Ref : NY1291756139
Summary : The site of Roman milfefortlet 9. The fortlet, and ditches of uncertain date, are visible as cropmarks on air photographs. The milefortlet is sub-square in form and defined by two broad ditches. There are also traces of a possible finer outer ditch. An interior macula may indicate an area of stone robbing. Due to the diffuse nature of the cropmark in places and natural cropmarks elements of the ditch are difficult to trace with certainty. To the south-west are two roughly parallel ditches, one of which has a curved corner. These were previously identified as a temporary camp. The features are only visible on 1949 Cambridge University oblique photography so would benefit from future reconnaissance.
More information : (NY 1294 5614) Fortlet 7 (GSC) (Site of) (1) Roman Mile-Fortlet 9 (2) at Skinburness. Described by St Joseph (3), after a visit on 31.8.1949, as "a small coastal fortlet, 45-50 yds sq; platform of site distinct with hollow of ditch system on SW and SE". Both fortlet and platform are clearly visible on AP's, although they cannot be traced on the ground (4). Bruce (5) mentions foundations of clay and cobble, and Bellhouse (6), in 1954, Roman pottery on surface and mussel shells from the surrounding ditch. The Roman altar (NY 15 NW 4) found nearby is generally associated with this site. (1-6) The South West side of a probable temporary Roman camp pre-dating and underlying the Milefortlet is visible on published air photographs. (7) The alleged temporary camp has been rejected by RCHME Roman Camps in England Project. (8) The site lies in a pasture field, on the crest of a gravel ridge (NY 1296 5614) which runs East-West along the centre of a split called Grune Point. The site affords excellent views all around, most importantly to the North across the Moricambe estuary towards milefortlet 5 at Cardurnock. No remains visible on the ground. (9) A Roman milfefortlet and ditches of uncertian date are visible as cropmarks on air photographs centred at NY 1291 5614. The milefortlet, at NY 1294 5615, is sub-square in form and defined by two broad ditches. It has external dimensions of approximately 65m by 61m and there are also traces of a possible finer outer ditch. An interior macula may indicate an area of stone robbing. Due to the diffuse nature of the cropmark in places and natural cropmarks elements of the ditch are difficult to trace with certainty. To the south-west are two roughly parallel ditches, one of which has a curved corner. These were previously identified as a temporary camp. The features are only visible on 1949 Cambridge University oblique photography so would benefit from future reconnaissance. (11) Air photograph of fortlet and running ditches, the latter thought unlikely to be Roman. (12) Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (13)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : 6" 1957
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : CUCAP (DL 001) 07-Jul-1949
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Source Number : 12
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Source Number : 13
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Corr 6" (J K St Joseph, 1949)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : F1 WJ 01-JUN-51
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Source Number : 4a
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Source details : (JK St Joseph DL 001 and DM 069)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Bruce JC 1957 The Roman Wall
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Source Number : 6
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : DOE (IAM) Record Form March 1977
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : Humphrey Welfare and Vivien Swan/1994/RCHME: Roman Camps in England Project
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : Colin Lofthouse/17-FEB-1993/RCHME: Cumberland Coast Project.
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : ROMAN
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Milefortlet
Evidence : Cropmark, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Uncertain
Display Date : Uncertain
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Ditch
Evidence : Cropmark

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cumbria)
External Cross Reference Number : 353
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 82
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 282
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 27745
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 15 NW 6
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1951-06-01
End Date : 1951-06-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1993-01-19
End Date : 1994-02-02

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Skinburness Milefortlet 9