Peel Gap tower, Hadrian's Wall. Photo by Northumberland County Council.

Turret in bottom of Peel Gap between turrets 39a and 39b. (1)

Scheduled. (2)

The tower was identical to neighbouring turrets in its internal arrangement, but lacked a recess in the north wall. The tower was demolished with the first narrow wall and the new extra-narrow wall was built across the site in the early third century. Finds include an artillery bolt-head and two sling shots. The tower is a unique example of a tower added to the wall system after the construction of milecastles and turrets. The tower probably acted as a controlled and guarded access point onto the wall top. (3)

Published reference. (4)

Environmental samples from excavations of the Roman site at Peel Gap on Hadrian's Wall in 1986 were analysed. Most of the plant remains recovered were preserved by waterlogging although a few samples also contained carbonised material. The latter was mainly from cereals indicating usage of 6-row barley and wheat.
Ecologically, the waterlogged material indicated the locally occurring, natural vegetation was heathland, grassland and wet fen meadows with little evidence of ruderals or cultivated ground. (5)

Examination of residues from Peel Gap Roman site showed no evidence for metal working on the areas excavated. (6)

During the summer of 1987 a joint excavation by the National Trust and English Heritage along a section of Hadrian's Wall discovered the foundations of a Roman tower between turrets 39A and 39B. The foundations are located 345m west of turret 39A (at approx NY 75336748) in the lowest part of Peel Gap. The foundations, which abut the wall on the south side, lie one foot below the surface and in many ways resemble a turret. It is rectangular, 13ft east to west and 11ft 9ins north to south, about the same size as turret 39A, with walls 3ft thick. There is a blocked up doorway in the east side of the south wall and the foundations of a platform along the outside of the west wall which could have supported a ladder or a stairway. On the other hand, the tower is not as well built as the turrets nor is it recessed into the wall but joined on to it. This appears to suggest that it was built after the wall had been completed, though not long after, and although useless as an observation post because of its low lying situation, it would have filled the gap between 39A and 39B which is the longest gap between two turrets along the entire length of the wall. Perhaps its usefulness lay in providing access to the wall and shelter to patrols. (7a)

Extra turret excavated (7c and 7d) in 1988.
Surveyed. It is worth noting that the bottom of Peel Gap is not visible from either of the Turrets 39A or 39B, and that a tower here is therefore useful as an observation post. (7b)

The excavated stonework remains of the tower are visible on air photographs and have been mapped as part of the Hadrian's Wall National Mapping Project. (7e)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (7f)

General association with HER 6562 (Turret 39a). HER 6563 (Turret 39b). (7)