Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Milecastle 79
Hob Uid: 10106
Location : Cumbria Allerdale Bowness
Grid Ref : NY2359062240
Summary : The site of Roman Milecastle 79, part of the defences supporting Hadrian's Wall along the Cumbrian coast. Excavations revealed it was 57 1/2 ft square internally, with stone walls 8-9 ft thick, built on the razed remains of an earlier turf wall milecastle, measuring 48 1/4 x 40 1/2 ft internally, with 19 ft thick turf walls. The area of the milecastle is subject to flooding, which probably accounts for the 4 3/4 ft high artificial platform on which both the turf wall, and the earlier milecastle were built. The extent of this platform can be traced visually over the low sea marsh. This site is no longer visible.
More information : [NY 2359 6224] Milecastle 79 [GS] (site of) (1) Milecastle 79, 57 1/2 ft square internally with stone walls 8-9 ft thick, was built on the razed remains of an earlier turf wall milecastle, 48 1/4 x 40 1/2 ft internally with 19 ft thick turf walls. The area of the milecastle is subject to flooding, which probably accounts for the 4 3/4 ft high artificial platform on which both the turf wall, and the earlier milecastle were built. The extent of this platform can be traced visually over the low sea marsh. (2-5) Site falls on slightly raised ground, but no 'platform' can be delineated. (6) There is no surface trace of the milecastle at NY 2359 6224. (7) Scheduled (8) The air photograph of this site (CUCAP DI 20), recorded by Authority 4 , was taken by St Joseph on 6th July 1949. This photograph was seen by the Hadrian's Wall NMP project, but contained insufficient control for accurate mapping. (9) The James Irwin Coates Archive: depicted on Fig 171, page 49 (painting dated 1881). A view showing the line of the Wall. (10) This milecastle was investigated as part of the Milecastles Project. Two trenches were excavated: trench 1 within the area excavated in 1949; and trench 2 cut into the largely undisturbed western side of the milecastle. The well-preserved remains of both the turf and stone milecastles survived. In the stone phase a timber building occupied the east side of the milecastle. The results indicated that the previous excavations were accurately reported, and the milecastle had not been extensively damaged by ploughing since the 1949 excavation. (10-11) Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : 6" 1957
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Special Map Hadrian's Wall 1951
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : 'Milecastle 79 (Solway House): 1999'
Page(s) : 193-7
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Source Number : 11
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Page(s) : 156
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Source Number : 12
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Source Number : 2a
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Source details : Prof I A Richmond
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : (I A Richmond and J P Gillam)
Page(s) : 17-40
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Vol(s) : 52, 1953

Source Number : 4
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Source details : (CUC D1 020) (St Joseph)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Bruce J C 1957 Handbook to the Roman Wall
Page(s) : 221
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : F1 BHP 22-NOV-68
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Mark Bowden/03-SEP-1990/RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : 19-Mar-98
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Source Number : 9
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Milecastle
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 28
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28476
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Hadrian's Wall Project Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 2362/8
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External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cumbria)
External Cross Reference Number : 165
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 26 SW 17
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Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1948-01-01
End Date : 1949-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1988-01-01
End Date : 1993-08-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31

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