A fragment of a Roman inscribed stone, moulded top and bottom, 16-1/2ins high, reading -
P AVCVST
S COH 1..
ORVM OO
PREEST..
NIVS VIC
It was exhibited to the Society on 25 May 1921, by Mr H F Lockhart, who had taken the stone from a little 'grotto' in his garden at Hexham, where it had been used as part of the interior decoration. The grotto, now pulled down, stood about 20 yards from the adjacent medieval tower, and the stone may have been part of the building material of this tower. (1)

Considerable building operations in the late 1800's must have involved the removal of some parts of the remains of the mural tower abutting on the Hallstile, and probably the stone was found then. (2)

Near the top of Hall Stile Bank, on the left hand side (from the station) are some ancient vaults. (3)

NY 93686412 Vaults [symbol used indicates a pre-Reformation date]. (4)

The medieval mural tower consists of the remains of a vaulted chamber situated immediately north of Prospect House (NY 93696411). Local enquiries revealed that the latter was formerly the residence of Mr H F Lockhart (now deceased) who exhibited the Roman stone to the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle.
The chamber measures internally 8.2m by 4.4m with walls 0.8m to 1m thick. The stone vaulted roof is segmental and on the north side is a doorway with segmented head. Above the vault is a building of hand made brick, which, in the opinion of this investigator, is of 18th century date.
The purpose of the chamber is doubtful. Its situation on a lower level than the nearby Moot Hall (NY 96 SW 9) does not suggest an association with an enclosure or bailey attached to that building. The comparatively thin outer walls are not indicative of a tower as suggested by authorities (1) and (2). The construction of the vaulted roof is suggestive of a medieval origin. The chamber, the east end of which is partly demolished, is used as a store.
The Roman inscribed stone is preserved in the Manor Office Hallgate, Hexham and is the property of Mrs F V A Lockhart, Sunniside, Hexham. See Illustrations Card.(5)

Condition unchanged. (6)

No 14A (Storehouse adjacent to east of No 12) Hall Stile Bank (south side). Grade II Listed Building (1/14A). Possible medieval basement, said to be part of the town's defences, or the substructure to the Bishop (of Durham's) Palace. Upper floors 18th century. (7)

The reference to a Bishop's palace should read Bishop of York. (8)

The structure with a vaulted basement in Hallstile Bank, north of the archbishop's precinct, was probably part of a gatehouse spanning the road, but how it related to the archbishop's enclosure is not clear. The adjacent buttressed wall may be part of its perimeter but the buttressed wall may be part of its perimeter but the buttresses are 19th century. (9)