Birdoswald Roman Fort

En un regard

Le château en bref

Birdoswald is a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, in Cumbria, near Gilsland, on a spur overlooking a meander of the River Irthing. The site occupies a narrow strip between the Wall to the north and a steep cliff to the south. Covering more than two hectares, it is one of the large forts of the frontier. Its defensive circuit survives all the way round, with corner towers and double-portal gateways; the east gate is the best preserved on the whole Wall. Two granaries (horrea) and the traces of large post-Roman timber halls have been uncovered there, as well as long stretches of the Wall surviving up to 2.5 m high. The site also illustrates continuity of occupation: after Antiquity it hosted a tower house in the 15th century, a bastle house during the border raids, and then a farmhouse remodelled in the 19th century. It is managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.