More information : NY 493384 VOREDA ROMAN FORT G.S. (1)
The Roman Fort of Voreda now known as Old Penrith or Plumpton Wall is five miles N of Penrith on the modern road to Carlisle. It was occupied from 1st to 4th cent AD. Finds from the site include a number of inscribed stones a steelyard, a complete quern, coins from Hadrian to Tetricus, coarse pottery and Samian ware. A well was discovered in the road 100 yards to the north, and an extensive settlement surrounded the fort. Scheduled. (2-5)
In fair condition. Some of the internal detail of the fort is discernible, but there is no vestige of the vicus.
Published survey (25") revised. (6)
Name 'VOREDA' accepted for 4th edition RB Map. Observation during levelling operations, followed by excavation of an area 50m square south of the fort, revealed vicus buildings described by Horsley but not seen on air photographs. Earliest occupation is attested by groups of pottery of probably Trajanic date. A layer of accumulated soil may indicate that the site was abandoned from circa 120 until vicus buildings were established between 150 and 200. A number of
building plans were recovered, one of which featured a hypocaust,
together with a well. Occupation appears to have ceased by 300.
The ditches and south gate of the fort were partially examined.
The earliest ditch was continuous across the gateway, perhaps
with a bridge. (7)
VOREDA - The Roman fort at Old Penrith, Cumbria. (8)
NY 494385. Hesket. Old Penrith (Voreda), Plumpton Wall listed under Roman remains. Scheduled no. 249. (9)
Some Roman sculptures from Old Penrith are now at Abbotsford
(NT 53 SW 61). (10)
several buildings of the vicus can be seen as parchmarks on aerial photographs taken in July 2013. The buildings are clustered just outside the west gate of the fort, occupying a relatively narow space betwen the fort defences and change in slope where hteground falls away to the River Petteril. (11) |