Housesteads Roman Fort

55°00′47″N 2°19′52″W / 55.013°N 2.331°W / 55.013; -2.331

Housesteads Roman Fort
Alternative name(s)Vercovicium, Borcovicium
Abandonedc. 400 AD
Attested byNotitia Dignitatum
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceBritannia
Structure
— Stone structure —
Builtc. 124 AD
Stationed military units
Legions
Legio II Augusta
Cohorts
Cohors I Tungrorum
Location
TownHexham
CountyNorthumberland
CountryEngland
Reference
UK-OSNG referenceNY789687
WebsiteHousesteads Roman Fort

Housesteads Roman Fort was an auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall, at Housesteads, Northumberland, England. It is dramatically positioned on the end of the 1-mile (1.6 km)-long crag of the Whin Sill over which the Wall runs, overlooking sparsely populated hills. It was called the "grandest station" on the Wall and is one of the best-preserved and extensively displayed forts. It was occupied for almost 300 years. It was located 5.3 miles (8.5 km) west from Carrawburgh fort, 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Great Chesters fort and about 2-mile (3.2 km) north east of the existing fort at Vindolanda on the Stanegate road.

The site is now owned by the National Trust and is currently in the care of English Heritage. Finds from the fort can be seen in the site museum, in the museum at Chesters, and in the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne.