Brampton Turret 48A: A Roman Tower on Hadrian’s Wall
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.7
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Primary era
- Classical
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Classical
- Civilizations
- Roman
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Wall
History
Brampton Turret 48A is a Roman frontier tower at Upper Denton near Brampton, in the United Kingdom. Also known as Willowford East, it was one of two turrets associated with Milecastle 48 on Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman frontier barrier across northern England. A turret was a small fortified tower used for observation and probably for housing a small military detachment, while a milecastle was a fortified enclosure placed at intervals along the wall. Part of the milecastle’s garrison probably manned the turret.
The turret was excavated in 1923. It was later cleared and partially rebuilt in 1951–52, leaving the surviving masonry stabilized for preservation and display.
Remains
The turret structure
Brampton Turret 48A occupies a river terrace on the south bank of the River Irthing. The structure is approximately 4.1 metres across. Its north wall survives to a maximum height of 1.3 metres, while the east wall remains to seven courses of stone, the west wall to five courses, and the south wall to six courses. The entrance was set in the southwest wall. Today, the remains are visible as consolidated masonry, meaning that the surviving stonework has been stabilized and repaired.
Several hearths were found inside the turret, together with evidence of bronze- and ironworking. These features indicate that activities involving heat and metalworking took place within the small military structure.
Nearby sites
