Coventina's Well (Newbrough and Fourstones)
NY 85767114. Temple (site of). Coventina's Well. Altars and Hoard of coins found AD 1876. (1)
At the bottom of the west slope (of Brocolitia) is the swampy source of a stream. In Horsley's day (c.1732), a rectangular well was visible here cased with masonry. It was excavated in October 1876, when many thousands of coins ranging from Mark Antony to Gratian, carved stones, altars, jars and incense burners, pearls, brooches and other votive objects, were discovered in an indiscriminate mass. The well had stood in the centre of a shrine, some 40 feet square internally, of which the foundations still exist. The name of the deity was Coventina (see sketch plan). (2)
The sacred spring of Coventina at Brocolitia which still bubbles up in its stone tank, was covered by a temple of celtic type, in which the well, or open basin, took the place of a central shrine. (3)
The site was under water on each of several visits made over a number of weeks. It would appear to remain in this state throughout the year despite seasonal changes. (4)
Scheduled. (5)
NY 8576 7115. [Re-recorded from former OS card NY87SE10.2] Excavation in 1876 revealed a spring encased in a rectangular basin, about 2.6m by 2.4m, which lay at the centre of a walled enclosure or temple, measuring 12.2m N-S by 11.6m transversely within a wall 0.9m thick. The contents of the well included at least 13,487 coins, from Mark Antony to Gratian, a relief of three water nymphs, the head of a male statue, two dedication slabs to the goddess Coventina, ten altars, two clay incense burners, and a wide range of votive objects. (6a)
RCHME Newcastle examined and surveyed the well as a part of the 1:1000 survey of Carrawburgh fort, and produced a full report.
Little can be seen of the site. The spring still contains some stone blocks below summer water level. (perhaps dislodged pieces of the well-head). On the E edge of a bank immediately to the W is a short stretch of facing stones, 1.5m long, the only visible portion of the shrine's internal wall face. Limited probing in 1984 located another fragment of the inner face of the enclosure on the S side. (6b)
Discussion of Coventina's Well. (6c)
Overall summary. (6d)
Nos 1522-26, 1528-33, inscribed altars to the goddess Coventina; Nos 1527 and 1534, slabs dedicated to the goddess Coventina; No 1543, altar dedicated to Minerva. (6e)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (6f)
General association with HER 7879 (Carrawburgh Roman Fort), HER 7932 (Temple of Mithras), HER 7929 (Carrawburgh Vicus). (6)
At the bottom of the west slope (of Brocolitia) is the swampy source of a stream. In Horsley's day (c.1732), a rectangular well was visible here cased with masonry. It was excavated in October 1876, when many thousands of coins ranging from Mark Antony to Gratian, carved stones, altars, jars and incense burners, pearls, brooches and other votive objects, were discovered in an indiscriminate mass. The well had stood in the centre of a shrine, some 40 feet square internally, of which the foundations still exist. The name of the deity was Coventina (see sketch plan). (2)
The sacred spring of Coventina at Brocolitia which still bubbles up in its stone tank, was covered by a temple of celtic type, in which the well, or open basin, took the place of a central shrine. (3)
The site was under water on each of several visits made over a number of weeks. It would appear to remain in this state throughout the year despite seasonal changes. (4)
Scheduled. (5)
NY 8576 7115. [Re-recorded from former OS card NY87SE10.2] Excavation in 1876 revealed a spring encased in a rectangular basin, about 2.6m by 2.4m, which lay at the centre of a walled enclosure or temple, measuring 12.2m N-S by 11.6m transversely within a wall 0.9m thick. The contents of the well included at least 13,487 coins, from Mark Antony to Gratian, a relief of three water nymphs, the head of a male statue, two dedication slabs to the goddess Coventina, ten altars, two clay incense burners, and a wide range of votive objects. (6a)
RCHME Newcastle examined and surveyed the well as a part of the 1:1000 survey of Carrawburgh fort, and produced a full report.
Little can be seen of the site. The spring still contains some stone blocks below summer water level. (perhaps dislodged pieces of the well-head). On the E edge of a bank immediately to the W is a short stretch of facing stones, 1.5m long, the only visible portion of the shrine's internal wall face. Limited probing in 1984 located another fragment of the inner face of the enclosure on the S side. (6b)
Discussion of Coventina's Well. (6c)
Overall summary. (6d)
Nos 1522-26, 1528-33, inscribed altars to the goddess Coventina; Nos 1527 and 1534, slabs dedicated to the goddess Coventina; No 1543, altar dedicated to Minerva. (6e)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (6f)
General association with HER 7879 (Carrawburgh Roman Fort), HER 7932 (Temple of Mithras), HER 7929 (Carrawburgh Vicus). (6)
N7931
EXCAVATION, Coventina's Well 1876
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R Lewis
WATCHING BRIEF, B6318 'Military Road', Throckley-Gilsland 2007; Pre-Construct Archaeology
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project ; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Carrawburgh Survey ; RCHME
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R Lewis
WATCHING BRIEF, B6318 'Military Road', Throckley-Gilsland 2007; Pre-Construct Archaeology
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project ; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Carrawburgh Survey ; RCHME
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