User:Sam.roebuck/Willowford Bridge

Willowford Bridge
Cumbria, England, UK
The remains of Willowford Roman Bridge
Willowford Bridge Location in Cumbria
Coordinates	54.991347°N 2.591916°W / 54.991347; -2.591916
Grid reference	NY622664

The Willowford Crossing was a sequence of three bridges (each built on the site of the previous one) built to carry Hadrian's Wall, and latterly the Military Way across the River Irthing.

Current Site

The current site consists of the remains of the foundations of the bridge abutment, exposed on the east bank only. (The river is believed to have flowed immediately west of the abutment in a rocky gorge, but the course has now moved several metres further west.)

Excavations and investigations

• 1924 - Findings.

• 1940 - Findings.

• 1985 - Findings: Finds included:.
  • Item 1
  • Item 2

• 1986 - Findings: Finds included:.
  • Item 1
  • Item 2

Excavations were carried out on the site in 1924, 1940 and between 1985 and 1986. These uncovered a large tower and splayed abutment foundation, which represented the first phase of the original narrow bridge design. A wider bridge was later built with a massive projecting pier positioned further west. The sequence of development is mirrored where the Wall crosses the North Tyne at Chesters Roman Fort. The bridge was constructed of stonework bonded with dovetail cramps. The foundations of two further bridge piers lie 3 metres below the surface of the present riverbank. The river is believed to have flowed immediately west of the abutment in a rocky gorge). ).

The first bridge

Milecastle XYX was a long/short-axis milecastle with Type XX gateways. Such milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the legio II Augusta/VI Victrix/XX Valeria Victrix who were based in Isca Augusta/Eboracum/Deva Victrix (Caerleon/York/Chester). Ref to other similar MCs where appropriate.

The milecastle had internal/external dimensions of . . . . (other dimension details - gateways, wall thicknesses, rounded corners, etc.) Construction materials and methods. Other interesting construction facts. Internal structure details.

Excavations and investigations

• Year 1 - Findings.

• Year 2 - Findings.

• Year 3 - Findings: Finds included:.
  • Item 1
  • Item 2
  • Item 3

• Year 4 - Findings

• Year 5 - English Heritage Field Investigation. It was noted that . . . .

The first bridge

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle XYX are known as Turret XYXA and Turret XYXB.

The site of Turret XYXA

Turret XYXA

Turret XYXA (Turret Name) is (description of position and update coordinates). (Construction details: door position, platform position, masonry, etc). (Description of current remains). (Excavation and investigation).

(Other comments).

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 54.993672°N 1.736733°W / 54.993672; -1.736733 (Turret XYXA) (Ordnance Survey National Grid Coordinates: NY 8127 7043)

The site of Turret XYXB

Turret XYXB

Turret XYXB (Turret Name) is (description of position and update coordinates). (Construction details: door position, platform position, masonry, etc). (Description of current remains). (Excavation and investigation).

(Other comments).

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 54.993672°N 1.736733°W / 54.993672; -1.736733 (Turret XYXB) (Ordnance Survey National Grid Coordinates: NY 8127 7043)

Monument Records

Monument	Monument Number	National Monuments Record Number
Milecastle XYX	22662	NZ 16 NE 5
Turret XYXA	22667	NZ 16 NE 6
Turret XYXB	22670	NZ 16 NE 7

Public Access

Only worth adding this section if there are extant remains. Access to Milefortlet and turrets.

Bibliography

• Daniels, Charles (1979), "Review: Fact and Theory on Hadrian's Wall", Britannia, 10: 357–364, doi:10.2307/526069, JSTOR 526069