Milefortlet 13 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milefortlet 13 |
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Milefortlet 13 lies somewhere near the road between Blitterlees and Beckfoot
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 Location in Cumbria
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| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°50′48″N 3°24′13″W / 54.846625°N 3.403677°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
Milefortlet 13 was a small Roman fort along the coast of Cumbria, England. It was part of a long line of defenses built by the Romans. These defenses protected the western end of Hadrian's Wall. They included small forts called milefortlets and stone watchtowers. A wooden fence connected them all. These coastal defenses were built around the same time as Hadrian's Wall. The exact spot of Milefortlet 13 is still unknown. However, two nearby watchtowers, named Tower 13A and Tower 13B, have been found and explored.
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Milefortlet 13: A Roman Mystery
What Was a Milefortlet?
A milefortlet was a small fort built by the Romans. They were part of a coastal defense system. This system stretched along the Cumbrian coast. It was built at the same time as the famous Hadrian's Wall. These forts helped guard the Roman Empire's borders. They were usually placed about one Roman mile apart.
Where Was Milefortlet 13?
Milefortlet 13 was located on the coast of Cumbria. It was somewhere between the villages of Blitterlees and Beckfoot. This area is part of the civil parish of Holme Low. Even though people have looked for it, the exact spot of Milefortlet 13 has never been found. Its likely position has been figured out based on where other Roman forts are.
Looking for Clues
In 1954, people tried digging to find Milefortlet 13. But they did not find any remains of the fort. Later, in 1994, a special survey was done. This survey used equipment to look underground without digging. The results were not clear. However, the survey did find what might be a ditch from a fort. It also noted three lines that could have been ditches for the coastal defenses.
Nearby Watchtowers
Each milefortlet had two watchtowers close by. These towers were built like the turrets on Hadrian's Wall. They were placed about one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the milefortlet. Soldiers from the nearest milefortlet would likely have guarded these towers. The towers linked to Milefortlet 13 are called Tower 13A and Tower 13B.
Tower 13A
The location of Tower 13A was found by digging in 1954. The foundations of the tower were discovered. They measured about 3.75 meters square inside. Small pieces of pottery were also found there. A Roman coin from the time of Emperor Hadrian was also uncovered. Today, a modern dike crosses the site of this tower.
Tower 13B
The site of Tower 13B is in a field on high ground. It was explored by digging in 1880. The foundations were found to be 6 meters square on the outside. Inside, they were 3.75 meters square. Only a few pieces of pottery were found here. The digs in 1880 also found what might have been a Roman pavement. This pavement was located between Tower 13A and Tower 13B.
