Lavatrae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lavatrae |
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|---|---|
| Bowes, County Durham, England | |
| Coordinates | 54°31′00″N 2°00′49″W / 54.5168°N 2.0136°W |
| Type | Castra |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks only survive |
Lavatrae, also known as Lavatris, was an important Roman fort. It was built by the Romans in what is now Bowes, a village in County Durham, England. This fort helped the Romans control the area and protect their travel routes.
Contents
A Roman Fort's Story
The Romans built the first fort at Lavatrae around the early AD 70s. It had strong wooden walls to protect the soldiers. This happened after Governor Petilius Cerealis led a Roman invasion into the region.
Why Lavatrae Was Important
Lavatrae was a key stop on a major Roman road. This road was like the Roman version of Watling Street. It connected important cities like Luguvalium (modern-day Carlisle) and Eboracum (modern-day York). The fort also guarded the eastern entrance to the Stainmore Pass. This mountain pass goes through the Pennines, and the fort watched over the River Greta. The name "Lavatrae" itself means "summit," which makes sense for its location.
Building with Stone
Around the AD 130s, the Romans made the fort even stronger. They replaced the wooden walls with sturdy stone ones. Outside the fort, a small town grew up. This town was called a vicus, and it was home to civilians who lived near the soldiers. There was also a bathhouse built to the south-east of the fort. This bathhouse was about 30 feet by 20 feet and had tiled floors. It seems to have been damaged by a fire once, but then it was rebuilt. The fort and the vicus were used by the Romans until at least the late 4th century.
What Remains Today
After the Romans left, the fort slowly fell into ruin. People started exploring the site much later.
Discovering the Past
Archaeologists began digging at Lavatrae in the 19th century. They found the old Roman bathhouse. More small digs happened in 1923 when repairs were being done on the medieval castle nearby. Later, bigger and more planned investigations of the Roman fort took place. These happened in 1954, 1966–67, 1970, 1988, 1990, and 2009. These digs helped us learn a lot about the fort. For example, the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology has a stone altar from the bathhouse. It was put there by a group of soldiers called the 1st Cohort of the Thracians.
Lavatrae Now
Today, you can still see parts of the Roman fort. Only the earthworks (mounds and ditches in the ground) and some parts of the stone walls of the bathhouse remain. They are a reminder of the Roman presence in England long ago.
