Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Granary and Stores Building, Vindolanda, Hadrian's Wall

This evening, I am focusing one of the most important-and impressive- sites on the former Roman frontier which now comprises Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. The Romans occupied Britain ( effectively England) for some 370 years and for some 325 years of that period there was a military presence at Vindolanda which started as a succession of wooden forts and progressing through to stone constructions and a civilian settlement. Overall, there were at least ten successive forts on this site which for most for the period occupied a position  a few miles south of the Wall. Vindolanda today is subject to on-going archaeological investigation, a task which will last many years into the future due to the sheer size and complexity of the site.

A wide range of Roman artifacts have been recovered from the site of which, arguably, the most important of which are the famous ‘Vindolanda Tablets’ which comprise a combination of official and private written comunications, all carefully inscribed on thin slices of wood and which miraculously preserved in pits where they were discarded due to anaerobic conditions which the Romans inadvertently created when sealing old sections of the site for re-use. These ‘tablets’ have been transcribed and afford a unique insight into the routines of life on the frontier. So far, approximately 1400 separate texts have been discovered.

In addition to the tablets adverted to above, archaeologists have  found over 3000 boots, shoes, sandals, slippers and clogs. Other finds include textiles, wooden objects, combs, pottery, weapons, armour, utensils, jewellery, ear rings, thousand of bones, bronze and other metal items.

The structural remains include:

• Military Bath House
• Gates to the site.
• Headquarters Building.
• Christian Church.
• Guard Chambers.

There is also a well stocked museum and visitor centre.

This video clip  gives an overview of this extensive site.

Excavations in Process, Vindolanda, Hadrian's Wall

Vindolanda Roman Site, Hadrian's Wall, England

Replica Wall Turret, Vindolanda, Hadrian's Wall

Roman Hypocaust Heating System, Vindolanda Roman Site, England

Excavated Roman Site, Hadrian's Wall, England

Whenever possible I include Vindolanda in my Hadrian’s Wall tour programme.

Columns of Porticoes, Corbridge Roman Site, England

This evening, I am posting information on Corbridge Roman Site  near Hadrian’s Wall. Location is probably due to the site being at the intersection of the principal Roman roads of the day which ran east-west and north-south. Although lying south of  Hadrian’s Wall, Corbridge ( Coria) had a major support role as evidenced by a series of military forts which spanned the period from the late 1st century AD through to middle of the second century.From around AD 165  a new garrison town was developed which was maintained through to the 5th century AD.

Around AD180 the character of Corbridge began to change as the site progressively evolved into a mixed civilian/military community. At the end of the 2nd century large scale building work was commenced which included a pair of granaries ( see below) and and a fountain house but there appears to have occurred a hiatus in construction due to enemy action with the result that the buildings were not completed until the end of the 2nd century.

Little is known about the development of Corbridge during the 3rd and 4th centuries, principally because most of the site remains un-excavated under surrounding fields. However, it is presumed that prosperity was driven by a combination of support role for Hadrian’s Wall to the north and, possibly, mining for lead, zinc and coal in the locality.

The settlement at Corbridge probably came to an end in the early 5th century after the collapse of Roman rule in Britain.

Stone-Flagged Floor of West Granary, Corbridge, England

Granaries looking North at Corbridge Roman Site, England

Underground Strong Room looking N.E. at Corbridge Roman Site

Stone Trough and Statue Base at former Fountain House, Corbridge

 For visitors who wish to connect with the Roman era, this is an excellent site with adjacent museum where many of the important archaeological finds can be viewed. Whenever possible I include Corbridge in my tours of Roman Britain.