Chew Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chew Green (Ad Fines) |
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| Northumberland, England, UK | |
Chew Green Roman camp
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 Chew Green (Ad Fines)
Location in Northumberland
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| Coordinates | 55°22′16″N 2°20′13″W / 55.371°N 2.337°W |
Chew Green is an important historical site in Northumberland, England. It was once a large camp built by the ancient Romans. People sometimes mistakenly call it Ad Fines, which means "The Limits" in Latin.
This Roman site is about 8 miles (13 km) north of Rochester and 9 miles (14 km) west of Alwinton. It was built right next to Dere Street, a famous Roman road. This road stretched all the way south to York, which the Romans called Eboracum. Chew Green is also very close to where the border with Scotland is today.
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Discovering Chew Green's Roman Past
Archaeologists have dug up many interesting things at Chew Green. They found a complex of Roman military structures. This includes a Roman fort, which was a strong, permanent base. There were also two smaller forts, called fortlets, and two larger temporary camps. A section of the original Roman road was also found.
What the Roman Camp Looked Like
The largest part of the camp is a square shape. It covers about 17 acres (6.9 hectares) of land. This area was protected by a strong defensive wall, called a rampart, and a deep ditch. Inside the main fort, there is evidence that people lived there for a longer time. This suggests it was a permanent military base. It was likely used only by soldiers, not as a place for families to settle.
Later History at Chew Green
After the Romans left, there was also a medieval settlement on the same spot. This was a village called Kemylpethe. Some reports from the 1880s mention a small chapel found there. However, these old reports are not fully documented, so we can't be completely sure about the medieval findings.
Chew Green Today
Today, the Chew Green site is part of the beautiful Northumberland National Park. It is also located within a military training area near Otterburn. This means it's a protected area with a rich history.
