Despite being bypassed by the main Newcastle-Carlisle road, and merely touched by the side road to Hexham, the narrow streets of Corbridge can be surprisingly busy. Indeed, a visitor to Corbridge almost two millennia ago might have found it just as busy, or perhaps even more so.
History of Corbridge Roman Town
Corbridge’s origins date back to around AD80, when a wooden fort was built there to guard the point where Dere Street, that linked the Roman settlement at York with Scotland, crossed the River Tyne. It was also the intersection from which another road, The Stanegate, ran westward to Carlisle.
With the building of Hadrian’s Wall, in the second century AD, Corbridge’s importance as a fort declined, and it developed into a thriving garrison town and the main supply depot for the Wall. It thus became the most northerly town in the Roman Empire. With the fall of Rome, the legions withdrew, and by the fourth century, the town was in decay, with many of its stones being removed for use in constructing surrounding farms. However, parts of the site remained occupied, as evidenced by several Anglo-Saxon relics that have been found here.
Aerial surveys reveal that the town covered more than thirty acres, though only a small fraction of this has been excavated, and is open to visitors, under the stewardship of English Heritage.
The Visitor Centre
Entrance to the site is through the Visitor Centre and Museum, which contains carved sandstone statues and altar blocks depicting deities, many of them from the region, indicating how easily the Romans absorbed local cults and religions. Glass cases contain pendants, coins, carved gemstones and agricultural and trade items.
During excavations in 1964, a large wooden chest, which became known as the Corbridge Hoard, was unearthed. This contained many personal and domestic items, which are also on display: locks and keys, spoons, bells, glassware and pottery, buckles, jewellery and purses, in addition to samples of writing. These appear to date from AD105-138, and have provided previously unknown details about everyday life in Roman Corbridge.
The Roman Town
Visitors explore the Roman town with the assistance of an audio guide, which not only describes each part of the site, but tells something of its history, together with the history of the legions in the North of England, and the rebellions they had to cope with. The commentary is illustrated with quotations from the writings of soldiers and historians of the period.
Running through the town is the Main Street, which is part of the Stanegate. Its uneven progress is due to its consisting of several layers of construction, the lowest dating from AD85 and the highest from the 3rd century AD.
Granaries, Courtyard and Military Compounds
To the north of the street are the remains of two large granaries, with stone flag floors beneath which air circulated to keep the grain cool and dry. An extensive grassy area covers the site of the early forts and a later Courtyard building, which was not completed, but was superseded by shops and offices. These foundations date from around AD140, and it was here that the Corbridge hoard was discovered.
To the south of the Stanegate are the East and West Military Compounds, separated by Side Street. These contained barracks, workshops and houses, and extended beyond the present boundary fence and down the slopes toward the river. The wavy nature of the compounds results from subsidence caused by the ditches of the earlier forts. Drainage channels can be seen along Side Street.
In the south-west corner is the Headquarters building, from which steps lead down to what was an underground chamber, probably a strong room for storing the soldiers’ wages.
Reaching the Roman Town From Corbridge
The Roman town is easily reached by a half-mile, signposted car journey from the centre of Corbridge. On a warm, sunny day, however, a very pleasant circular walk of a mile brings one along the river bank, then up a gently rising track to a minor road, which leads back into Corbridge, passing the Roman town on its way.
The Roman remains at Corbridge are as fascinating, and as informative as those to be seen at Chesters, on Hadrian’s Wall, 5½ miles to the north-west.
Anthony Toole - I was born and brought up in the English Lake District, where I have walked and climbed for most of my life. I was educated as a scientist ...
Join the Conversation