Red House, Roman fort (Sandhoe)
NY 971651 An Agricolan fort was discovered at Beaufront Red House, Corbridge, during the construction of a by-pass. Fifteen timber-framed buildings were examined, these having been dismantled, and both the eastern and western ramparts had been removed in antiquity, or ploughed out. There can be little doubt that this was the main base or depot for Agricola's invasion of Scotland. (1)(2)
The site lies immediately west of the Agricolan bath-house (NY 96 NE 16) uncovered in 1955-7 and 1.3km west of the later forts at Corbridge (NY 96 SE 20). The ditches of the east and west defences were 257m apart, but the northern and southern limits of the site are not certain. A timber building was encountered immediately outside the west ditch. Internal buildings of timber included a fabrica, a possible barrack block, and 12 open-ended sheds 17.5 by 7m in size. To the west of the fabrica was a work-pits and a possible well. Two phases of construction were visible in the fabrica and in some of the eastern sheds, where there was a further period of modification and addition, including the filling of the eastern ditch. Complete demolition c.87AD had been followed by agricultural activity including a non-military ditch running east-west across the site. The area of the fort is thought to have been some 25 acres, which is similar to many 'vexillation fortress'. (3)(4)
See diagrammatic material. (5)
Narrow timber sheds with no front wall, possibly with wide gates, known at Red House, Corbridge. Usually identified as workshops, stores or wagon sheds. Corridor building, often identified as a hospital. At Beaufront Red House, outside the corridor building were several workpits, reddened and filled with charcoal, used for metalworking. The associated 'corridor' building is more likely a workshop than a hospital. (6)
Red House Roman fort lies on the line of a suspected Roman frontier - the 255 degree line. (7)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (8a)
General association with HER 8649 (Red House Roman bath house). (8)
The site lies immediately west of the Agricolan bath-house (NY 96 NE 16) uncovered in 1955-7 and 1.3km west of the later forts at Corbridge (NY 96 SE 20). The ditches of the east and west defences were 257m apart, but the northern and southern limits of the site are not certain. A timber building was encountered immediately outside the west ditch. Internal buildings of timber included a fabrica, a possible barrack block, and 12 open-ended sheds 17.5 by 7m in size. To the west of the fabrica was a work-pits and a possible well. Two phases of construction were visible in the fabrica and in some of the eastern sheds, where there was a further period of modification and addition, including the filling of the eastern ditch. Complete demolition c.87AD had been followed by agricultural activity including a non-military ditch running east-west across the site. The area of the fort is thought to have been some 25 acres, which is similar to many 'vexillation fortress'. (3)(4)
See diagrammatic material. (5)
Narrow timber sheds with no front wall, possibly with wide gates, known at Red House, Corbridge. Usually identified as workshops, stores or wagon sheds. Corridor building, often identified as a hospital. At Beaufront Red House, outside the corridor building were several workpits, reddened and filled with charcoal, used for metalworking. The associated 'corridor' building is more likely a workshop than a hospital. (6)
Red House Roman fort lies on the line of a suspected Roman frontier - the 255 degree line. (7)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (8a)
General association with HER 8649 (Red House Roman bath house). (8)
N8670
EXCAVATION, Corbridge Bypass, Beaufront Red House 1974
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