More information : [NY 8888 7109] Milecastle 29 [G.S.C.] (Site of) [TI] (1)
North of the Carlisle road, on the summit beyond Tower Tye are the remains of Milecastle 29. It is of the "long axis" type and one of the few with indications of an external ditch, in this case at the S.W. angle, and on the E. side; the purpose was possibly drainage. (2-3)
The remains consist of a mutilated earthen platform accentuated by deep robber-trenches around all sides. Externally, at the S.W. angle is a clearly defined hollow, 0.6m deep; on the E. side a superficial depression is discernible. The milecastle is situated at the foot of sloping ground, where some form of drainage ditch might be necessary. Ditch surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
The milecastle was seen by Horsley in 1732 who thought that it might be detatched from the Wall (5a). Hodgson, in 1840, gives measurements for the milecastle as 63 feet north-south and 58 feet east-west with the south-east and south-west corners rounded off (5b). Maclauchlan writes in 1858 that the remains of the milecastle "have been long since demolished, and low banks covered with turf were left to indicate where the walls had been" (5c). NY 8888 7109. The form of the milecastle survives only as clearly defined robber trenches on all sides. At the south-west side is the well-defined hollow of an external ditch. (5)
Scheduled (6)
Milecastle 29 was seen and mapped from air photographs. The remains of a ditch outside the south-west corner were also clearly visible. (7-8)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (9)
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