View across the Roman ramparts at Blakehope. Photo Northumberland County Council, 2004.

(NY 85889453) Roman Fort [R]. (1)

The earthworks were first described and surveyed by MacLauchlan. He noted that the inner earthwork could only be traced with difficulty. There were probably four gates, of which he could trace three: the west retained traces of a titulum. Part of an annexe to this earthwork was marked on his plan. These earthworks lay within a larger enclosure of approx 12 acres, of which he surveyed the remains on the north, east and west sides. A break marked by MacLauchlan in the northern rampart may be a possible entrance. (2)(3)

In 1938 Richmond and St Joseph rediscovered the inner earthwork and interpreted it as 'a cohort fort with single ditch, massive rampart, at least two gates and an annex to south'. Their survey shows the fort to measure approx 420 ft by 390 ft across the ramparts and to enclose an area of approx 3-1/4 acres. (4)

In 1955 St Joseph identified the outer earthwork described by MacLauchlan, as a large temporary camp measuring approx. 720 x 930 ft. Its relationship to Dere Street implied that the camp antedated the road. (5)

A short trial excavation on the fort side found that the rampart was of turf and had been burnt down. There was pre-Hadrianic occupation material, although insufficient was found to show whether it was Flavian or Trajanic in date. (6)

The fort is so grossly mutilated by rig and furrow and modern drainage ditches that its plan on the ground is recoverable only with difficulty. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (7)

There are to the north and west of the earthworks of the scheduled Roman fort the remains of a larger enclosure recorded by MacLauchlan. The remains consists of a low bank with internal and external ditches; and a rounded north west angle of Roman character. It has been interpreted as an earlier Roman camp (5), but the existing earthworks might in part be post-Roman on a Roman line. Rough pasture. Part of the enclosure was destroyed by road-widening in 1968. Visited 1979. (8)

Air photographs (a,b) clearly show the fort and its annex. The north and west ramparts of the outer enclosure (probably temporary camp?), its north-west/north-east angles and part of the south-west angle can be seen. Faint traces of the east rampart are visible for about half its length, overlain and considerably mutilated by rig and furrow. The lane leading into Blakehope Farm appears to follow the line of the southern rampart for most of its length. Faint traces of this rampart may be visible along the south-west corner of the field alongside this lane. There are possible indications that some of the existing earthworks of the camp may be post-Roman possibly overlying Roman work. (9)

Farrar notes that the outer earthwork had an internal ditch and no evidence for an external one. Only excavation could prove adaptation of a Roman site. (10)

NY 858947. Rochester. Blakehope Roman fort listed under Roman remains. Scheduled no 323. (11)

Additional bibliography. (12)

General association with HER 12392 (Dere Street). (13)