This is our master collection page for all of our heritage articles and sites. It is the root of our Read more
Whitely Castle
Those of you who are fans of Bernard Cornwell will know Whitley castle from his latest book: those of you who know their Roman stuff will know it as Epiacum Fort: and those who really know their stuff will know it’s the most complex set of defences in the Roman world
Crammed between the grass and sky
And what a setting it is: crammed between the grass and the sky, the fortress sits on a high ridge above the Road, imposing itself on the surrounding countryside. The remains of the defences are like green frozen waves rolling out from the walls and the remains of the corner towers are so clear you can practically still see the chilled garrison huddling around the fires, avoiding the chilly winds racing across the bleak beautiful fells.
Lozenge Shape
The location is narrow, and so the fort is less a rectangle and more a lozenge. The overlooking fells were clearly of sufficient worry for the various commanders to keep his lads busy adding to and complicating the banks that run away in rolling damp grassy undulations from the fort, but aside from a few isolated farms and an RAF fighter or 2 we reckoned the builders of this place would easily recognize it today
The only locals in sight were woolly, the only people were us, and the only sound was that of the drone and the wind, and we could have stayed forever. A place we will definitely visit again, and if you haven’t then take my advice. Do.
A copper alloy Roman nummus of the House of Constantine (AD307-361) dating to AD330-335 (Reece period 17). GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse type depicting two soldiers with two standards. Unclear mint. [...]
A copper alloy Roman nummus of the House of Constantine (AD307-361) dating to AD335-343 (Reece period 17). GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse type depicting two soldiers with one standard. Unclear mint. [...]
A copper alloy Roman nummus of the House of Constantine (AD307-361) dating to AD335-343 (Reece period 17). GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse type depicting two soldiers with one standard. Unclear mint. [...]
A Post Medieval cast lead bi-face token of Powell type 2 / 13 (Initials / frameworks) probably dating to c.1500-1700.Sub-circular and flat with the obverse depicting the initial letters W / I C in two lines. The reverse has [...]
A complete silver post-medieval sixpence from the reign of Elizabeth I, sword initial mark, second issue, North 1997, dating to AD 1582.Obverse: bust facing left, rose behind. Legend: ELIZABETH D'G' ANG FR'ET HIB REGINAReverse: Square shield on long cross [...]
A Medieval copper-alloy strap fitting/strap end/buckle dating to circa AD 1375-1500. The extant piece consists of one sheet of the plate. Now bent out of shape, it is rectangular in plan with. Its attachment end is complete [...]
Solid cast copper alloy foot from a Medieval to Post Medieval vessel, c. 1200 to 1800 AD.A substantial and well-cast flared foot from a vessel such as a cooking cauldron or posnet, in the shape [...]
Sub-circular flat lead object, probably a late medieval to early post-medieval token. It is uniface, with relief decoration of an eight-spoke radial pattern on one face; this may represent a flower, sunburst etc. Four of the eight [...]
A Post Medieval copper-alloy Nuremberg rose and orb jetton of Wolf Lauffer -III, dating from c. AD 1582-1625. Similar to Mitchiner 1988: no 1660–1672 [...]
A complete lead alloy uniface token dating to the Medieval to Post Medieval period (c. AD 1300-1700). The design on the obverse depicts eight intersecting lines with a circle joining all lines and pellets at the centre and mid-way along each of the [...]
A central element of a Medieval composite cast copper alloy strap end dating to c. AD 1250-1450.Forked inner spacer from a large composite strap end, one forked arm cast thicker then the other, lower end is decorated with an [...]
Silver penny of Edward the Martyr (reigned 975-978), small cross type, North 763, 1.13g, in good condition. Mint of Stamford, moneyer Wulfgar.Obverse: bust left, + EADWEARD REX ANEO.Reverse: small cross, WVLGAR M-O STAN. [...]
Complete copper alloy undecorated sword hanger component, sub-trapezoidal upper plate with rounded and slightly bifurcated upper edge, two iron rivets placed centrally, one above the other, now corroded and rusted front and back. Lower end is [...]
A Post Medieval copper-alloy Nuemberg rose and orb jetton of Wolf Lauffer II, dating from c. AD 1615-1645. Similar to Mitchiner 1988: no 1703-1709. [...]
A complete ground and polished axehead of Neolithic date, c. 4000-2200 BC, probably made of greenstone (uncertain origin) and of Butler (2005) Thick-butted Type A. The axehead is of an overall rounded piriform shape, with a oval-sectioned [...]
An incomplete copper alloy Colchester derivative, Polden Hill type brooch dating to the Roman period (c. AD 75-175). The remains of the brooch consist of the head with wings intact, spring and partial bow. All other features have [...]
An incomplete copper alloy candle holder dating to the late Medieval to Post Medieval period (c. AD 1475-1700). The object has a slightly flared cylindrical mouth to accommodate the candle. The main shaft is baluster-shaped and the base tapers [...]
A cobalt blue glass bead, 7.76mm in diameter, 4.44mm thick, pierced by a 3.1mm diameter hole. Such beads are difficult to date, but probably Iron Age to Early Medieval.Guido (1978) illustrates small undecorated colbalt blue annular [...]
