Milecastle 63 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milecastle 63 |
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 Location in Cumbria
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| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°55′45″N 2°53′19″W / 54.929043°N 2.888591°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
Milecastle 63 (Walby West) was a small fortlet built by the Romans. It was an important part of Hadrian's Wall, a famous ancient barrier in northern England.
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Milecastle 63: A Roman Fortlet on Hadrian's Wall
What is a Milecastle?
Imagine a very long wall built by the Romans across England. This was Hadrian's Wall. Along this wall, the Romans built many small forts called milecastles. These milecastles were like guard posts or mini-forts. They were usually placed about one Roman mile apart. Soldiers would live and work in these milecastles. They helped to control who passed through the wall.
Where is Milecastle 63?
Milecastle 63 is located in a place called Walby West. This area is in Cumbria, England. Today, you cannot see any remains of Milecastle 63 above ground. It is hidden beneath the earth. It lies about 800 metres southwest of a small village called Walby.
Finding Hidden History
Even though you can't see Milecastle 63, archaeologists have tried to find it. In 1980, they used a special method called a geophysical survey. This survey helps them look for things underground without digging. It works by measuring changes in the ground. For example, it can find old walls or ditches.
The survey found some signs of the milecastle. However, later work in 2000 found a section of Hadrian's Wall in that exact spot. This made experts think again. Now, they believe that Milecastle 63 is actually under a track in the field. This track is just south of where the wall was found.
What About the Turrets?
Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two smaller watchtowers nearby. These were called turrets. They were usually placed about one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the milecastle. Soldiers from the milecastle would likely have manned these turrets. They would have used them to keep watch over the area.
The turrets linked to Milecastle 63 are known as Turret 63A and Turret 63B. However, archaeologists have not yet found the exact locations of these two turrets. Many turrets along Hadrian's Wall were not found until after 1961. The search for 63A and 63B continues.
