More information : (NU 25280424) Roman Altar found A.D. 1856 (TI) (1)
In 1856 a fragment of a Roman altar was upturned during ploughing a
field known as Wallington Green to the west of the homestead Gloster
Hill. (44 NW) It was dedicated to the Sylvan Mothers by the soldiers of the first cohort, who must have had their castrum on this place. The stone measures 14 ins by 18 ins and comprises the capital
and part of the stem of an altar. The inscription reads:
MPESTRI
OHI and expanded reads:-
MATRIBUS CAMPESTRIBUS COHORS PRIMA.
The altar was found near or upon a road, of which the remains may be
traced in places, from Gloster Hill to Chester House in the township
of Acklington. (a) (2-3)
The field in which this find was made is situated on a gentle northern slope. It is now under plough and no surface finds were made. No trace of the road mentioned in T2 was to be seen.
Authority 2a in T2 is incorrect and should read "Proc. Berwick Nat
Club Vol 4 1857 p87 (W Dickson)
The altar is at present preserved in Alnwick Castle Museum. Cat No
848. (4)
Within a radius of approx 170 metres from NU 25280424) this locality
trenched extensively in an attempt to find Roman site. Extremely
negative results. (5)
In 1856 a Roman altar was discovered at Gloster Hill, half a mile
west of the small village of Amble on the banks of the River Coquet,
near its mouth. The inscription reads
[CA]MPESTRI[BVS C]OH(ORS) I[/[...] 'To the Goddesses of the
Parade-ground...the First Cohort...'. (a)
The campertres were always worshipped by cavalrymen, not by infantry,
and were associated with the exercise-ground or campus. (6)
Special training grounds for the cavalry existed...one...at Main in
Syria...another in the vicinity of Gloster Hill in Northumberland
for the cavalry of a cohors equitata in one of the outposts of the
frontier. In both cases the troops lived away from their base in
camps at the training grounds. (7)
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