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Milecastle 29

April 18, 2024

Milecastle 29 (Tower Tye) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a mutilated earth platform accentuated by deep robber-trenches around all sides, and are located beside the B6318 Military Road. Like Milecastles 9, 23, 25, and 51, a ditch has been identified around the Milecastle, and is still visible to a small extent. It has been postulated that this was as a result of the need for drainage on the site.[1]

Milecastle 29
Northumberland, England
The site of Milecastle 29
Milecastle 29
Location in Northumberland
Coordinates55°02′03″N 2°10′32″W / 55.034267°N 2.175435°W / 55.034267; -2.175435
Grid referenceNY88887109

Construction edit

Milecastle 29 was a long-axis milecastle though the gateway type cannot be identified. Such milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York), or by the legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based in Deva Victrix (Chester).[2]

The milecastle was stated in 1840 as having dimensions of 63 feet (19 m) North-South by 58 feet (18 m) East-West with both southern corners (away from the wall) being rounded off.[3]

The presence of a milecastle ditch is still evident, including a causeway crossing the ditch opposite the milecastle's south gate. A break in the north mound of the vallum and causeway over the vallum ditch (offset to the east) is also present. There is also disputable evidence of a causeway over the wall ditch opposite the milecastle's north gate.[3]

Excavations and investigations edit

  • Pre-1732 – The milecastle is visited by John Horsley. He felt that the milecastle may be detached from the wall. No subsequent evidence supports this.[4]
  • 1840 – Rev John Hodgson reports the dimensions of the milecastle, and describes the southern corners as rounded.[5]
  • 1858 – Henry MacLauchlan reports that the milecastle's remains "have been long since demolished, and low banks covered with turf were left to indicate where the walls had been".[6]
  • 1957 – The 11th edition of the Handbook to the Roman Wall is published, noting that the milecastle was "long axis", and the presence of indications of an external ditch, in this case at the south-west angle, and also on the east side; the purpose possibly being for drainage.[7]
  • 1989 – English Heritage Field Investigation (as part of the Hadrian's Wall Project). It was noted that the milecastle survived as clearly defined robber trenches on all sides, and that the well-defined hollow of an external ditch existed at the south-west side.[1]

Associated turrets edit

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 29 are known as Turret 29A and Turret 29B.

 
Turret 29A at Black Carts
 
Join of the turret 29A's wing wall (broad gauge) to the narrow gauge curtain wall

Turret 29A edit

Turret 29A (Black Carts) is located about 100 metres (110 yd) east of the minor road to Simonburn, and exists within a 460 metres (500 yd) long stretch of extant curtain wall of Narrow gauge at this point, with clearly visible foundation stones. (The term 'carts' within the name is derived from the old English word ceart, which means rocky and rough.[8]) Although severely robbed on the south side, the masonry stands up to eleven courses high in the recess.[9] The presence of the broad wing walls indicates that the fortification was constructed prior to Hadrian's Wall itself.[8] The upright portions of the door frame are made from solitary stones.[10][11] At the highest point of the structure, there are fourteen cut stones per horizontal row.[10]

The internal measurements of the turret are 3.45 metres (11.3 ft) by 3.40 metres (11.2 ft) and it is of a type thought to have been built by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix. The entrance is 0.9 metres (3.0 ft) wide, and located in the east side of the south wall.[3][9]

On the south side, the vallum is still visible.[12]

The turret was excavated in 1873, 1912 and finally in 1971, prior to being consolidated by the Department of the Environment. During these excavations, fragments of millstones were found, along with coins of Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian and Constantine (in quantities higher than are usually recovered).[3][9]

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55°02′10″N 2°10′57″W / 55.036009°N 2.182452°W / 55.036009; -2.182452 (Turret 29A)

 
The site of Turret 29B

Turret 29B edit

Turret 29B (Limestone Bank) remains as a low earthwork, turf covered with little (if any) visible masonry. The track connecting the turret to the Military Way can also be discerned.[13]

Excavations in 1912 revealed the turret to have wing walls, and a very similar layout to Turet 29A. Roofing slabs (many pierced by nails) were found among debris inside the turret, along with three large flagstones, possibly from an upper floor. Below these were two occupation levels. The later floor was of flags, and the original, clay. On the south-west corner, on the later floor, a masonry platform had been constructed. Beside the east wall, an amphora had been set into the clay and cobbles, while a hearth lay against the west wall. The following artefacts were also discovered:[3]

  • Shield boss
  • Spear head
  • Brooches
  • Melon Bead
  • Gaming board
  • Millstone fragments
  • 2 Flints
  • Pottery revealing that occupation did not extend beyond the second century AD

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55°02′15″N 2°11′22″W / 55.037481°N 2.189484°W / 55.037481; -2.189484 (Turret 29B)

Monument records edit

Monument Monument Number English Heritage Archive Number
Milecastle 29 16683 NY 87 SE 3
Turret 29A 16686 NY 87 SE 4
Turret 29B 16689 NY 87 SE 5

Public access edit

The Milecastle and both turrets are accessible from the Hadrian's Wall National Trail.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Milecastle 29 (16683)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  2. ^ David J Breeze and Brian Dobson (1976). Hadrian's Wall. Allen Lane. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-14-027182-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition – Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 211–212, ISBN 0-901082-65-1
  4. ^ Horsley, John (1732), Britannia Romana or the Roman Antiquities of Britain, Frank Graham (published 1974), p. 145, ISBN 0-85983-090-X
  5. ^ Hodgson, Rev John (1840), A History of Northumberland, Part II, Vol III, Newcastle upon Tyne, p. 279
  6. ^ Maclauchlan, Henry (1858), Memoir Written During A Survey Of The Roman Wall: Through The Counties Of Northumberland And Cumberland, In The Years 1852–1854, Kessinger Publishing Co, p. 95, ISBN 1-4370-5803-5
  7. ^ Bruce, J Collingwood (1957), Handbook to the Roman Wall (11th edition), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, p. 101
  8. ^ a b Nic Fields (2003), Hadrian's Wall AD 122–410, vol. 2, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84176-430-6
  9. ^ a b c Historic England. "Turret 29A (16686)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  10. ^ a b David E. Johnston (2002), Discovering Roman Britain (3 ed.), Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7478-0452-9
  11. ^ Martin Marix Evans (1998), The military heritage of Britain & Ireland, André Deutsch, ISBN 978-0-233-99150-4
  12. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (1987), P.H. Reed (ed.), English Heritage, Hampstead Road, London: English Heritage / Macdonald Queen Anne Press, p. 31, ISBN 0-356-12773-7
  13. ^ Historic England. "Turret 29B (16689)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 22 February 2012.

External links edit

  • English Heritage

Bibliography edit

  • Daniels, Charles (1979). "Review: Fact and Theory on Hadrian's Wall". Britannia. 10: 357–364. doi:10.2307/526069. JSTOR 526069.


April 18, 2024
milecastle, tower, milecastle, roman, hadrian, wall, remains, exist, mutilated, earth, platform, accentuated, deep, robber, trenches, around, sides, located, beside, b6318, military, road, like, milecastles, ditch, been, identified, around, milecastle, still, . Milecastle 29 Tower Tye was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian s Wall Its remains exist as a mutilated earth platform accentuated by deep robber trenches around all sides and are located beside the B6318 Military Road Like Milecastles 9 23 25 and 51 a ditch has been identified around the Milecastle and is still visible to a small extent It has been postulated that this was as a result of the need for drainage on the site 1 Milecastle 29Northumberland EnglandThe site of Milecastle 29Milecastle 29Location in NorthumberlandCoordinates55 02 03 N 2 10 32 W 55 034267 N 2 175435 W 55 034267 2 175435Grid referenceNY88887109 Contents 1 Construction 2 Excavations and investigations 3 Associated turrets 3 1 Turret 29A 3 2 Turret 29B 4 Monument records 5 Public access 6 References 7 External links 8 BibliographyConstruction editMilecastle 29 was a long axis milecastle though the gateway type cannot be identified Such milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum York or by the legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based in Deva Victrix Chester 2 The milecastle was stated in 1840 as having dimensions of 63 feet 19 m North South by 58 feet 18 m East West with both southern corners away from the wall being rounded off 3 The presence of a milecastle ditch is still evident including a causeway crossing the ditch opposite the milecastle s south gate A break in the north mound of the vallum and causeway over the vallum ditch offset to the east is also present There is also disputable evidence of a causeway over the wall ditch opposite the milecastle s north gate 3 Excavations and investigations editPre 1732 The milecastle is visited by John Horsley He felt that the milecastle may be detached from the wall No subsequent evidence supports this 4 1840 Rev John Hodgson reports the dimensions of the milecastle and describes the southern corners as rounded 5 1858 Henry MacLauchlan reports that the milecastle s remains have been long since demolished and low banks covered with turf were left to indicate where the walls had been 6 1957 The 11th edition of the Handbook to the Roman Wall is published noting that the milecastle was long axis and the presence of indications of an external ditch in this case at the south west angle and also on the east side the purpose possibly being for drainage 7 1989 English Heritage Field Investigation as part of the Hadrian s Wall Project It was noted that the milecastle survived as clearly defined robber trenches on all sides and that the well defined hollow of an external ditch existed at the south west side 1 Associated turrets editEach milecastle on Hadrian s Wall had two associated turret structures These turrets were positioned approximately one third and two thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle s garrison The turrets associated with Milecastle 29 are known as Turret 29A and Turret 29B nbsp Turret 29A at Black Carts nbsp Join of the turret 29A s wing wall broad gauge to the narrow gauge curtain wallTurret 29A edit Turret 29A Black Carts is located about 100 metres 110 yd east of the minor road to Simonburn and exists within a 460 metres 500 yd long stretch of extant curtain wall of Narrow gauge at this point with clearly visible foundation stones The term carts within the name is derived from the old English word ceart which means rocky and rough 8 Although severely robbed on the south side the masonry stands up to eleven courses high in the recess 9 The presence of the broad wing walls indicates that the fortification was constructed prior to Hadrian s Wall itself 8 The upright portions of the door frame are made from solitary stones 10 11 At the highest point of the structure there are fourteen cut stones per horizontal row 10 The internal measurements of the turret are 3 45 metres 11 3 ft by 3 40 metres 11 2 ft and it is of a type thought to have been built by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix The entrance is 0 9 metres 3 0 ft wide and located in the east side of the south wall 3 9 On the south side the vallum is still visible 12 The turret was excavated in 1873 1912 and finally in 1971 prior to being consolidated by the Department of the Environment During these excavations fragments of millstones were found along with coins of Vespasian Trajan Hadrian and Constantine in quantities higher than are usually recovered 3 9 Location on Ordnance Survey 1 25 000 map 55 02 10 N 2 10 57 W 55 036009 N 2 182452 W 55 036009 2 182452 Turret 29A nbsp The site of Turret 29BTurret 29B edit Turret 29B Limestone Bank remains as a low earthwork turf covered with little if any visible masonry The track connecting the turret to the Military Way can also be discerned 13 Excavations in 1912 revealed the turret to have wing walls and a very similar layout to Turet 29A Roofing slabs many pierced by nails were found among debris inside the turret along with three large flagstones possibly from an upper floor Below these were two occupation levels The later floor was of flags and the original clay On the south west corner on the later floor a masonry platform had been constructed Beside the east wall an amphora had been set into the clay and cobbles while a hearth lay against the west wall The following artefacts were also discovered 3 Shield boss Spear head Brooches Melon Bead Gaming board Millstone fragments 2 Flints Pottery revealing that occupation did not extend beyond the second century AD dd dd dd dd dd dd dd dd dd Location on Ordnance Survey 1 25 000 map 55 02 15 N 2 11 22 W 55 037481 N 2 189484 W 55 037481 2 189484 Turret 29B Monument records editMonument Monument Number English Heritage Archive NumberMilecastle 29 16683 NY 87 SE 3Turret 29A 16686 NY 87 SE 4Turret 29B 16689 NY 87 SE 5Public access editThe Milecastle and both turrets are accessible from the Hadrian s Wall National Trail References edit a b Historic England Milecastle 29 16683 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 21 February 2012 David J Breeze and Brian Dobson 1976 Hadrian s Wall Allen Lane pp 14 15 ISBN 0 14 027182 1 a b c d e Breeze David J 1934 Handbook to the Roman Wall 14th Revised edition Nov 2006 Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne pp 211 212 ISBN 0 901082 65 1 Horsley John 1732 Britannia Romana or the Roman Antiquities of Britain Frank Graham published 1974 p 145 ISBN 0 85983 090 X Hodgson Rev John 1840 A History of Northumberland Part II Vol III Newcastle upon Tyne p 279 Maclauchlan Henry 1858 Memoir Written During A Survey Of The Roman Wall Through The Counties Of Northumberland And Cumberland In The Years 1852 1854 Kessinger Publishing Co p 95 ISBN 1 4370 5803 5 Bruce J Collingwood 1957 Handbook to the Roman Wall 11th edition Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne p 101 a b Nic Fields 2003 Hadrian s Wall AD 122 410 vol 2 Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 430 6 a b c Historic England Turret 29A 16686 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 22 February 2012 a b David E Johnston 2002 Discovering Roman Britain 3 ed Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 0 7478 0452 9 Martin Marix Evans 1998 The military heritage of Britain amp Ireland Andre Deutsch ISBN 978 0 233 99150 4 Lord Montagu of Beaulieu 1987 P H Reed ed English Heritage Hampstead Road London English Heritage Macdonald Queen Anne Press p 31 ISBN 0 356 12773 7 Historic England Turret 29B 16689 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 22 February 2012 External links editEnglish HeritageBibliography editDaniels Charles 1979 Review Fact and Theory on Hadrian s Wall Britannia 10 357 364 doi 10 2307 526069 JSTOR 526069 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Milecastle 29 amp oldid 1172067877, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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