Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Tower 13b
Hob Uid: 9152
Location : Cumbria Allerdale Holme St. Cuthbert
Grid Ref : NY0965650166
Summary : The site of tower 13B, part of the Roman frontier defences supporting Hadrian's Wall along the Cumbrian coast. Excavations in 1880 uncovered the remains of the tower. The position of the tower as shown on OS 1:10000 map of 1972 at NY 0964 5015 was confirmed on the ground by R L Belhouse. The situation is on top of a 13m high natural ridge with excellent visibility all round, and the signs of its excavation can still be seen. The tower was visible as a cropmark and photographed from the air in 2006.
More information : (NY 0964 5015) Roman Tower 13b (Robinson's Wolsty 1880) (1); sited to (NY 0975 5030) by Duff (2). A Roman tower, a little under a mile NE of Beckfoot camp (NY 94 NE 12), and a little over half a mile west of Wolsty Castle. The remains were found on high ground, in a field owned by Mr Saul about 250 yds from HWM. Only the foundations were found 20.5 ft square externally, and 12.5 ft square internally the corners facing the cardinal points. A few sherds of Samian, Upchurch and Salopian ware were found in the interior. The entrance was apparently to the south-east, a rough pavement 6 ft x 4 ft being opposite that wall. About 400 yards further up the coast Robinson found a pavement 28 ft square resembling a section of the (?Roman) road but much wider than parts of the road south of (Beckfoot) camp. No further portions could be found. (1-3) The field, having been recently ploughed, the Tower was easily sited at NY 0964 5015 from the amount of typical Hadrian - Antonine cooking pot rims. (4) (NY 0964 5015) ROMAN TOWER 13B [R] (site of) [NAT] (5) NY 096 502. Wolsty Bank turret 13b, scheduled. (6) The position of tower 13b as shown on OS 1:10000 map of 1972 at NY 0964 5015 was confirmed on the ground by R L Belhouse (7a). The situation is on top of a 13m high natural ridge with excellent visibility all round, and the signs of its excavation can still be seen. It had been wrongly sited by Duff (authority 2). The English Heritage scheduled area (authority 6) has been pegged out in the wrong place at NY 0962 5014; as this area has been left unploughed it has the appearance of a stony lump which is easily mistaken for the true site. (7) Scheduled. (8) The tower was visible as a cropmark and photographed from the air in 2006. (9) The Tower 13B, part of the Roman Frontier Defence, was seen as a cropmark and mapped from air photographs. The tower was seen to be approximately 5 m by 5 m. (10) Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (11)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Sp 6" (E Birley)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 1a
Source :
Source details : Information from R L Bellhouse 01/06/1962
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : NMR NY 0950/9 (20600/14) 28-JUL-2006
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details : NMR NY 0950/16 (20599/29) 28-JUL-2006
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 11
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Corr 6" (H Duff, 1949)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : (J Robinson)
Page(s) : 258-60
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 5, 1881

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (R L Bellhouse)
Page(s) : 40-41
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 66, 1966

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : 1:10000 1972
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : DOE (IAM) Ancient Monuments in England and Wales 1 1978
Page(s) : 15
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : Colin Lofthouse/19-FEB-1993/RCHME: Cumberland Coast Project.
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7a
Source :
Source details : Oral: Mr R L Bellhouse, 16 Lyt's Lane, Kempsey, Worcester.
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : 21/02/1997
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : ROMAN
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Tower, Frontier Defence
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Tower, Frontier Defence
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 257
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CU 85
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 27713
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cumbria)
External Cross Reference Number : 3042
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 05 SE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1880-01-01
End Date : 1880-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1993-01-19
End Date : 1994-02-02

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

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE
Start Date : 2006-04-01
End Date : 2007-03-31

Historic England Research Records

Tower 13b