Milecastle 71 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milecastle 71 |
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Hadrian's Wall Path near the site of Milecastle 71
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 Location in the City of Carlisle district
Location in Cumbria
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| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°55′23″N 3°02′04″W / 54.923127°N 3.03435°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
Milecastle 71 (Wormanby) was one of many small forts called milecastles. These forts were built by the Romans about every Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.
Discovering Milecastle 71
Milecastle 71 is located near the villages of Burgh by Sands and Beaumont in England. It's an important part of the history of Hadrian's Wall.
Archaeologists first found the exact spot of Milecastle 71 in 1960. They dug up parts of the site to learn more about it. During these early digs, they found the south and west walls of the milecastle.
Later, in 2000, more detailed excavations took place. This time, they found the east wall, which had been hidden under a field boundary. They also discovered parts of the original Hadrian's Wall itself. This section of the wall was made of stone and built on top of an older turf wall. Inside the milecastle, there was also evidence of a possible building. Today, you can't see any remains of Milecastle 71 above the ground.
What Were Turrets?
Every milecastle along Hadrian's Wall had two smaller guard posts nearby. These were called turrets. They were placed about one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of each milecastle. Soldiers from the milecastle would have guarded these turrets.
The turrets connected to Milecastle 71 are known as Turret 71A and Turret 71B. For a long time, archaeologists didn't know exactly where these turrets were. Their precise locations are still a bit of a mystery.
Where Were Turrets 71A and 71B?
Turret 71A is thought to be located west of a small bridge over Greathill Beck. In the 1960s, people reported seeing pieces of carved stone, tiles, and even part of a column in the stream near this bridge. These might have been remains from the turret.
Turret 71B is believed to be hidden under the old Roman fort at Burgh-by-Sands. This area is now a modern graveyard.
