| Summary : The cropmark of a possible Roman temporary camp. Aerial reconnaisance has located fragments of two possible camps and a vexillation fortress with outworks on Newton Cliff, on the E bank of the River Trent. The fortress occupies an elevated position at the W end of a ridge, at 24 metres above Ordnance Datum. The whole complex is sited on the highest ground close to the river in this region; it commands the present river-crossing at Dunham on Trent, and provides views southwards along the Trent valley.Three sides of the double-ditched vexillation fortress are known; the fourth, west, side, if such existed, has been lost to river erosion. The area enclosed is likely to have been at least 12 hectares (30 acres). There was a defensive outwork comprising a polygonal envelope of ditches on the three sides, with perhaps a simple gate on the north and south sides; on the east a more complex system, with staggered entrances, is discernable. Nothing remains on the ground, except for a very slight rise on the line of the north-west part of the inner defence close to a Second World War observation post. Wilson has suggested that outworks of the kind seen around this fortress may plausibly be interpreted as a temporary defence for the construction party. To the south of the fortress, two linear cropmarks seem to represent portions of the perimeters of two camps. They lie at 25 metres above Ordnance Datum, on the south side of the slight hollow surrounding the high ground occupied by the fortress. Their position commands good views to the north, and particularly to the east, but to the south the line of sight is obscured by a rise. The detailed topography here is not sufficiently striking to provide clues as to the approximate area enclosed by either camp. The overall position of the camps is markedly inferior to that of the fortress, suggesting that the construction of the fortress had had priority. |
More information : SK 824737. Part of the perimeter of a temporary camp, comprising a length of 750 feet, including a gate with clavicula was noted on air-photographs, nearly 700 feet south of the fort (SK 87 SW : 8). If the clavicula is assumed to be internal this would be the north side of a camp that lies wholly south of the fort. The total length of the one proven side is unlikely to be less than 1,150 feet. (1)
This camp 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.
NAR number SK 87 SW 27 formerly given to 2 camps, now exclusive to camp 1, for camp 2 see SK 87 SW . Aerial reconnaisance has located fragments of two possible camps (St Joseph 1969, 104 (see auth 1); 1977, 128 (2a); CUCAP BUQ 15-17 (2b)) and a vexillation fortress with outworks (St Joseph 1965, 74-5 (2c); 1973, 214 (2d); Bishop and Freeman 1993, 187-9 (2e)) on Newton Cliff, on the E bank of the River Trent. The fortress occupies an elevated position at the W end of a ridge, at 24 m above OD. The whole complex is sited on the highest ground close to the river in this region; it commands the present river-crossing at Dunham on Trent, and provides views southwards along the Trent valley.
Three sides of the double-ditched vexillation fortress (SK 82367372) are known; the fourth, W, side, if such existed, has been lost to river erosion. The area enclosed is likely to have been at least 12 ha (30 acres). There was a defensive outwork comprising a polygonal envelope of ditches on the three sides, with perhaps a simple gate on the N and S sides; on the E a more complex system, with staggered entrances, is discernable. Nothing remains on the ground, except for a very slight rise on the line of the NW part of the inner defence close to a Second World War observation post. Wilson (DR 1984a, 58, 60, group 3 (2f)) has suggested that outworks of the kind seen around this fortress may plausibly be interpreted as a temporary defence for the construction party.
To the S of the fortress, two linear cropmarks seem to represent portions of the perimeters of two camps. They lie at 25 m above OD, on the S side of the slight hollow surrounding the high ground occupied by the fortress. Their position commands good views to the N, and particularly to the E, but to the S the line of sight is obscured by a rise.
The broader, more northerly, ditch of camp 1 is about 280 m long and has a clavicula close to its W end (CUCAP BUQ 15, 17 (see auth 2b; BVB 2-9 (2g)). The same aerial photographs show a second, narrower ditch belonging to camp 2, between 40 m and 50 m to the S of the first, and not quite parallel with it. It is at least 150 m long and has a rounded angle which turns southwards at its E end. Less than 280 m to the S of this line the cropmark of another ditch has been recorded. Its breadth is approximately the same as that of camp 1, about 335 m to the N, to which it appears to be parallel; it could, therefore, have formed part of the S side of this camp.
The detailed topography here is not sufficiently striking to provide clues as to the approximate area enclosed by either camp. The overall position of the camps is markedly inferior to that of the fortress, suggesting that the construction of the fortress had had priority. Full information is included in the NMR Archive. (2)
Additional reference. (3)
Scheduled (4) |