A small civilian settlement (a Vicus) would have soon sprung up, just to the east of the fort along the line of modern day Church Street. The fort’s garrison was the auxiliary cavalry unit Ala Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana. Further defense came from deep ‘V’ shaped ditches surrounding it. The fort would have the classic four gate entrances, one on each side. The position meant that it could protect the River Lune crossing point to just to the north.
Its external ramparts would be of battered clay, with the internal part strengthened by timber. The Roman Conquest of the North of Britain became inevitable.įIRST FORT (a simple turf and timber fort) Heading up to the East Gate of the first and second fortsĪ first Roman turf and timber fort was established on the hill top around 71-73 AD. From that point on, the Brigantes under his command were at war with Rome. On the second he was successful, and she had to be rescued by the Romans. When Cartimandua later divorced Venutius he launched two attempts to topple her. Their queen was Cartimandua and she and her husband Venutius had at first a pro-Roman stance. The top of the hill is 125 feet above sea level and affords good views of the surrounding countryside- hence it being a great location for over 2000 years.Īt the beginning of Roman Britain, this area was under the rule of the Brigantes (meaning ‘hill people’). The Brigantes were a loose confederation of British tribes whose domain stretched through much of what is now Lancashire and Yorkshire. Today on the site is the massive fortress of Lancaster Castle and the Medieval Priory Church.
On top of Castle Hill once stood Lancaster’s Roman Fort, or as we shall see, a succession of forts built over the years. Looking out from Castle Hill, site of Lancaster’s Roman Forts
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