Camboglanna

Camboglanna (with the modern name of Castlesteads) was a Roman fort. It was the twelfth fort on Hadrian's Wall counting from the east, between Banna ( Birdoswald) almost to the east and Uxelodunum ( Stanwix), 9 miles to the west. It was on a high bluff commanding the Cambeck Valley. It guarded an important approach to the Wall and also watched the east bank of the Cambeck against raiders from the Bewcastle area. The site was drastically levelled in 1791 when the gardens of Castlesteads House were laid over it. The name "Camboglanna" is believed to mean "Crook Bank", or "Bent Valley" because it overlooks a bend in the river Irthing; the name is Brythonic, made of cambo- "curved, bent, crooked" and glanna "steep bank, stream/river side, valley with a stream".

There was some confusion over the Roman name for the fort. At one time Camboglanna was the accepted name for Birdoswald, but this is now believed to be an error in the '' Notitia Dignitatum''. The Roman name for Birdoswald is now thought to be Banna.

Description

The fort was approximately square, measuring about and covering approximately . It faces roughly north-west by south-east and overlooks the gorge of the Cambeck. Erosion of the gorge has destroyed the north-west face of the fort.

The fort lies within the Vallum, but is not adjacent to the Wall. It is the only fort on Hadrian's Wall in this position. It appears that the Wall had already been built at the most convenient point to cross the Cambeck and so, when the fort was built, the strongest point was chosen rather than one adjacent to the Wall.

Garrison

The 2nd-century garrison was the Cohors IV Gallorum equitata. After it moved to Vindolanda, the 3rd-century garrison was the Cohors II Tungrorum, part-mounted.

Vicus

The '' vicus'' (civilian settlement) next to the fort was seen in 1727 and was below the fort on the slope towards the River Irthing. After the levelling of the site for a walled garden in 1791 there are no remains visible and the area is now in woodland.

A geophysical survey in 2007 showed the parts of the vicus around the south of the fort, with an east-west road. These parts of the vicus are to the south of the Vallum with a further ditch outside it. Buildings were generally stone-built, including four substantial buildings the larger of which is about 8 x 8 m, and were separated by a grid of streets. Some buildings were also between the vallum and the fort.

Camlann?

Camboglanna is suspected by numerous authorities such as O. G. S. Crawford, Andrew Breeze, Michael Wood and Robin Collingwood of being the site of the infamous and semi-legendary sixth century Battle of Camlann between King Arthur and Mordred, a connection made at least as far back as 1935.

Excavations

In 1934 the fort was partly excavated and the walls, apart from the missing north-east wall, were uncovered. The north-east and south-west double gates, and the tower at the southern corner were also uncovered. It was also established that the fort was defended by a single ditch. Several altars have been found at the site and have been preserved.

Previously, in 1741, an external bath-house was located and partly dug by Susanna Appleby, a local antiquarian.

References

* J. Collingwood Bruce, Roman Wall (1863), Harold Hill & Son,
* Frank Graham, The Roman Wall, Comprehensive History and Guide (1979), Frank Graham,

External links

Castlesteads (Camboglanna)
at www.Roman-Britain.co.uk

{{coord, 54.965, N, 2.761, W, source:placeopedia, display=title

Forts of Hadrian's Wall
Roman fortifications in England
Roman sites in Cumbria