Topics > Historical Periods > Roman Period (43 to 409 AD)

Roman Period (43 to 409 AD)


The Romans invaded Great Britain in 43 AD, though there had been earlier Roman expeditions into Britain, led by Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC. The Romans occupied most of the island of Great Britain, except northern Scotland, until their withdrawal in 410 AD. Todays Northern England was at the frontier of the Roman Empire. In AD 122 construction of Hadrian’s Wall began, when completed it ran 73 miles coast to coast across Northern England. Much of Hadrian's Wall survives today and is designated as a World Heritage Site. There was a network of forts along Hadrian's Wall, and also forts north of the wall and supply forts to the south. Dere Street was a major Roman road running from Eboracum (York) up to Hadrian's Wall and on into Scotland. There are a wealth of Roman remains and places to visit in the North of England.

Key Roman sites in the North of England

Hadrian's Wall

Forts along Hadrian's Wall
(East to West):

  • Segedunum (Wallsend)
  • Pons Aelius (Newcastle upon Tyne)
  • Condercum (Benwell)
  • Vindobala (Rudchester)
  • Hunnum (Halton Chesters)
  • Cilurnum (Chesters)
  • Procolita (Carrowburgh)
  • Vercovicium (Housesteads)
  • Aesica (Great Chesters)
  • Magnis (Carvoran)
  • Banna (Birdoswald)
  • Camboglanna (Castlesteads)
  • Uxelodunum (Stanwix)
  • Aballava (Burgh-by-Sands)
  • Coggabata (Drumburgh)
  • Mais (Bowness-on-Solway)
   

Dere Street (Roman road from York to Hadrian's Wall and on to Scotland)

Stanegate (Roman road from Carlisle to Corbridge)

Devil's Causeway (Roman road, off Dere Street to near Berwick)

Other Roman forts & structures in the North England:

Historical Periods Vindolanda Chesters Bridge Abutment Chesters Roman Fort Habitancum Roman Fort Written Rock of Gelt Poltross Burn Milecastle, Hadrian's Wall Segedunum Quick History of Newcastle and the North East Roman milestone near Spitals Farm Haltwhistle Burn Roman Fortlets Burrow Walls Roman Fort Immigration and links with other countries Pons Aelius Hadrian's Wall Vindobala Grindon School Roman Camp Housesteads Fort Arbeia - Roman Fort Ambleside Roman Fort (Galava) Milefortlet 9 (Skinburness) Learchild Roman fort (Alavna) Huntcliff Roman Signal Station Alauna Roman Fort (Maryport) Senhouse Roman Museum Benwell Temple of Antenociticus Benwell Vallum Crossing / Condercum Denton Hall Roman Turret Bremenium Roman Fort Scremerston Hadrian's Wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall Boothby Roman Fort Longovicium, Lanchester Roman Fort Vinovia, Binchester Roman Fort Chew Green, Roman Fort Stanegate Piercebridge Roman Bridge Morbium - Roman Fort at Piercebridge Corbridge Roman Town and Fort Planetrees Roman Wall Black Carts Turret Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh Birdoswald Roman Fort (Banna) Dere Street Devil's Causeway (Roman Road) Roman South Shields
Hadrian's Wall
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Hadrian's Wall
- Overview About Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall stretches over 73 miles (117 km) coast to coast across Northern England. Construction began in AD 122 during the rule of emperor Hadrian. The …
from https://www.futurelearn.com/c…
Hadrian's Wall: Life on the Roman Frontier (course)
- An online course by Newcastle University on Futurelearn. "This six week course offers a comprehensive introduction to Hadrian’s Wall and its people and raises fascinating issues concerning colonisation, cultural transformation, …

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Segedunum
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Segedunum
- Overview About Segedunum Map Segedunum was a Roman fort built at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall near the banks of the River Tyne. It is located in modern-day Wallsend, …
from Youtube (youtube)
Hadrian's Wall - NewCastle Roman Fort 3D Reconstruction

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Arbeia - Roman Fort
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Arbeia - Roman Fort
- Overview About Arbeia Map Street View The fort stood on the Lawe Top in South Shields, overlooking the River Tyne. It was built around 120 AD, guarded the main sea …
Vindolanda
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Vindolanda
from TWAM (youtube)
Portable Roman shrine at Segedunum Roman Fort

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from TWAM (youtube)
A new Roman find at Arbeia Roman Fort & Museum

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from TWAM (youtube)
Segedunum Roman Fort with Kingston Park Primary School.

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from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
002580a:Roman Altar

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from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
012514:Brooch Roman wall Benwell

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from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
003358:Roman Coffin Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 1903

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from Flickr (flickr)
THE ROMAN FORT - CORBRIDGE

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from Youtube (youtube)
The Hadrian's Wall in England (en)

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Benwell Temple of Antenociticus
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Benwell Temple of Antenociticus
- Overview About Antenociticus Map Street View "The fort at Benwell, which was occupied throughout most of the Roman period by the cavalry regiment ala I Asturum, is no longer visible. …
Benwell Vallum Crossing / Condercum
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Benwell Vallum Crossing / Condercum
- Overview About Condercum Map Street View "Nothing is now visible of the fort at Benwell (Condercum) in Newcastle, which was occupied throughout most of the Roman period by the Asturian …
Denton Hall Roman Turret
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Denton Hall Roman Turret
Hadrian's Wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall
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Hadrian's Wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall
- A consolidated stretch of Wall, up to 2 metres (61⁄2 feet) thick in places. "Stretches of Hadrian’s Wall 220 metres long and of the Wall-ditch to its north are visible …
Piercebridge Roman Bridge
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Piercebridge Roman Bridge
- Overview About the Roman Bridge Map Street View The Roman bridge at Piercebridge crossed the River Tees, carrying Dere Street, the Roman road that linked York with Corbridge, near Hadrian’s …
Morbium - Roman Fort at Piercebridge
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Morbium - Roman Fort at Piercebridge
- "Piercebridge is located on the site of a ten acre Roman fort with a surrounding vicus. The best evidence for this is the numerous cropmarks in fields to the east …
Corbridge Roman Town and Fort
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Corbridge Roman Town and Fort
- Overview About Corbridge Roman Fort/Town Map Street View  Corstopitum Coria was a fort and town 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia at a …
Planetrees Roman Wall
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Planetrees Roman Wall
- Overview About Planetrees Wall Map Street View   Planetrees is an extant section of Hadrian's Wall named after the farm located around 250 metres (270 yd) to the west. The …
Black Carts Turret
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Black Carts Turret
- Overview Map Street View  
Temple of Mithras,  Carrawburgh
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Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh
Chesters Bridge Abutment
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Chesters Bridge Abutment
- Overview Map Close to Chesters Roman Fort are the remains of a bridge which carried Hadrian's Wall across the River North Tyne.
Chesters Roman Fort
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Chesters Roman Fort
- Overview About Chesters (Cilurnum) Map Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, managed by English Heritage, is located near Walwick and Chollerford in Northumberland. The Roman cavalry fort (Cilurnum) was built in …
Pons Aelius
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Pons Aelius
- Overview About Pons Aelius Remains The Romans built Pons Aelius, a bridge  to cross the River Tyne, around 122AD. A fort was built there, eventually becoming known under the same …
from Flickr (flickr)
Stanegate Mile Stone

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from Flickr (flickr)
Latrines: Artist's Impression

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from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
003357:Roman Coffin Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 1903

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Longovicium, Lanchester Roman Fort
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Longovicium, Lanchester Roman Fort
- Overview About Longovicium Map Street View Longovicium was a Roman fort established in the mid 2nd century AD, which lay on Dere Street, the Roman road connecting York with the …
Vinovia, Binchester Roman Fort
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Vinovia, Binchester Roman Fort
- Overview About Vinovia Map Street View Vinovia was a Roman Fort established c.80 AD, located about a mile north of Bishop Auckland in County Durham. It was situated on Dere …
Chew Green, Roman Fort
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Chew Green, Roman Fort
- Overview About Chew Green Map & Aerial View Chew Green is the site of a large Roman encampment located about 9 miles west of Alwinton in Northumberland, and very close …
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
003355:Roman Mask Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 1906

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from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
029872:Wallsend Roman Wall C. 1930

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Habitancum Roman Fort
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Habitancum Roman Fort
- Overview About Habitancum Habitancum was an ancient Roman fort (castra) located at Risingham, Northumberland, England. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere Street, a Roman road …
 Haltwhistle Burn Roman Fortlets
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Haltwhistle Burn Roman Fortlets
- Overview Map and Aerial View From about AD 105 there was a small fort guarding Stanegate, the Roman military road from Corbridge (Corio) to Carlisle (Luguvalium), where it crossed the …
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Grindon School Roman Camp
- Overview Map There was a Roman temporary camp at Grindon, just south of Hadrian's Wall. There are few visible remains today because of farming over the years. It survives as …
Scremerston
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Scremerston
- Overview About Scremerston Map Street View Scremerston is a village in Northumberland, close to the coast and located about 3 miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Initially an agricultural settlement, Scremerston grew …
Poltross Burn Milecastle, Hadrian's Wall
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Poltross Burn Milecastle, Hadrian's Wall
- Overview About Milecastle 48 Map Street View Poltross Burn, located near Gilsland, is one of the best-preserved milecastles on Hadrian's Wall. It is larger than most other milecastles, housing two …
Housesteads Fort
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Housesteads Fort
- Overview About Howsteads Fort Map Street View Housesteads (Roman name: "Vercovicium") is one of the best preserved forts on Hadrian's Wall, built around 124 AD. The fort covers an area …
Ambleside Roman Fort (Galava)
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Ambleside Roman Fort (Galava)
- Overview About Ambleside Roman Fort Map Street View The remains of Ambleside Roman Fort (Galava) are located in a field by the shores of Lake Windermere in Ambleside. The stone …
Huntcliff Roman Signal Station
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Huntcliff Roman Signal Station
- Overview Map Street View "The site of a Roman signal station at Huntcliff, thought to be of late fourth century date. A Roman signal station at Huntcliff was discovered circa …
Written Rock of Gelt
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Written Rock of Gelt
- Roman quarry inscriptions
Milefortlet 9 (Skinburness)
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Milefortlet 9 (Skinburness)
- Overview About Milefortlet 9 Map Just north-west of Skinburness, by the crest of Grune Point, are the buried remains of a Roman milefortlet and the buried remains of an earlier Roman camp. …
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Learchild Roman fort (Alavna)
- The shallow earthwork remains of a large Roman fort (thought to be 'Alavna') near High Learchild were discovered by arial photography in 1945, and confirmed by subsequent archaeological digs. The fort …
Bremenium Roman Fort
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Bremenium Roman Fort
- Overview About Bremenium Map Street View   Bremenium was an ancient Roman fort (castra) located at Rochester, Northumberland, England. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere …
Vindobala
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Vindobala
- Overview About Vindobala Map Street View   Vindobala (Brytonnic Celtic : windo- fair, white, bala place, situation?, cf. Old Irish bal, bail place, situation, condition, (good) luck) was a Roman …
Alauna Roman Fort (Maryport)
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Alauna Roman Fort (Maryport)
- Overview About Alauna Aerial View / Map Street View Alauna was a fort in the Roman province of Britannia, located on the coastal sandstone ridge to north of the modern …
Senhouse Roman Museum
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Senhouse Roman Museum
- Overview Map Street View Senhouse Roman Museum is located at The Battery on Sea Brows in Maryport. The museum occupies part of the site of Alauna - the Roman fort …
Roman milestone near Spitals Farm
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Roman milestone near Spitals Farm
- There is Roman milestone near Spitals Farm, on the side of the old A66 road between the villages of Kirkby Thore and Temple Sowerby in Cumbria. The milestone, carved from red …
Burrow Walls Roman Fort
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Burrow Walls Roman Fort
- Overview Map Burrow Walls is located between Workington and Seaton in Cumbria. This Scheduled Monument includes the buried remains of a Roman fort and also visible sections of a wall made …
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Boothby Roman Fort
- There was a Roman fortlet (no visible remains today) at a strategic position overlooking the River Irthing, located to the north-west of Boothby in Cumbria. It was built in the …
from Youtube (youtube)
What Was Life Like? | Episode 2: Romans - Meet a Roman Legionary

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Why Was Hadrian’s Wall Built? | Animated History

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from Youtube (youtube)
Cavalry 360° at Hadrian's Wall

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