Segedunum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Segedunum |
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Segedunum Roman Fort
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 Location in Tyne and Wear
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| Founded | c. 122 AD |
| Abandoned | c. 400 AD |
| Attested by | Notitia Dignitatum |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Britannia |
| Nearby water | River Tyne |
| Structure | |
| — Stone structure — | |
| Size and area | 138 m × 120 m (1.65 ha) |
| Stationed military units | |
| — Cohorts — | |
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| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°59′16″N 1°31′56″W / 54.98791°N 1.53231°W |
| Town | Wallsend |
| County | Tyne and Wear |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NZ301660 |
Segedunum was an ancient Roman fort located in what is now Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. It was at the very eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, right next to the River Tyne. This fort was an important military base for about 300 years, from around 122 AD until almost 400 AD.
Today, Segedunum is the most thoroughly dug-up (excavated) fort along Hadrian's Wall. It is now a popular place called Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and Museum. You can visit it to learn about Roman life.
Contents
What Does the Name Segedunum Mean?
The name Segedunum was used for five different places in the Roman Empire. One was in Britain, one in Germany, and three in Gaul (modern-day France).
The name comes from ancient Celtic words. Sego meant 'strength' or 'victory'. Dunum meant 'fortified place' or 'fort'. So, Segedunum likely meant "strong fort" or "victory fort". This name fits well for a powerful Roman military base.
History of the Roman Fort
Hadrian's Wall was first built to end at a fort called Pons Aelius (which is now Newcastle upon Tyne). Building the wall started in 122 AD and moved west.
Later, around 127 AD, the wall was made longer. It was extended east to protect the river crossing at Pons Aelius. A new section of the wall, about 4 miles (6.4 km) long, was built. This part went from Pons Aelius to the new fort of Segedunum.
The Segedunum fort was quite large. It measured about 453 feet (138 meters) from north to south and 393 feet (120 meters) from east to west. This covered an area of about 4.1 acres (1.65 hectares). A wide ditch and an earth mound surrounded the fort.
The fort had four main gates. Three gates opened outside the wall, but the south gate opened inside the wall. A strong wall, about 6.5 feet (2 meters) wide, also ran from the fort down to the River Tyne. This helped protect the fort from the river side.
There was also a large village, called a vicus, outside the fort. Roman soldiers and their families lived there.
Who Lived at the Fort?
We don't know who the very first soldiers at Segedunum were. But in the 2nd century, a group called the Cohors II Nerviorum was stationed there.
Later, in the 3rd and 4th centuries, the fort was home to the Fourth Cohort of the Lingones. This group included both cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and infantry (soldiers on foot). Both groups had about 600 soldiers. This included 120 cavalry and 480 infantry. These soldiers protected the wall and the area around the fort.
What Happened to Segedunum?
Around 400 AD, the Roman army left the fort. For many centuries, the land was used for farming. But in the 1700s, coal mines were dug nearby. The area slowly became a busy mining village. By 1884, houses covered the entire fort site.
In 1929, some digging (excavations) happened. They found the outline of the old fort. The local council marked this outline with white paving stones. In the 1970s, the houses covering the site were taken down.
In the early 1990s, a part of Hadrian's Wall was dug up. A new section of the wall was built to show what it looked like. The Segedunum project officially started in 1997. More excavations took place. A Roman bathhouse was rebuilt. Old shipyard buildings were turned into a new museum. Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum opened to the public in June 2000.
Segedunum Today
Today, you can visit the Segedunum site. You can see the excavated remains of the fort's original buildings. There is also a reconstructed Roman military bathhouse. This bathhouse shows what Roman soldiers used for washing and relaxing.
The museum at Segedunum has many interesting items. These were found during the excavations. There is also a tall observation tower. From the top, you can look out over the entire site.
A small part of the original Hadrian's Wall can be seen across the street from the museum. There is also a reconstruction of what the wall might have looked like. The name Wallsend comes from Segedunum being at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. The western end is at Bowness-on-Solway.
See also
In Spanish: Segedunum para niños
