Mediobogdum

Coordinates: 54°24′9.82″N 3°12′19.44″W / 54.4027278°N 3.2054°W / 54.4027278; -3.2054

Hardknott Roman Fort.

Mediobogdum (or the Hardknott Roman Fort) was a fort in the Roman province of Britannia. Its remains are located on the western side of the Hardknott Pass in the English county of Cumbria (formerly part of Cumberland).

The location and name

It was built on a rocky spur giving a superb view over the River Esk in both upper and lower Eskdale, and protecting Hardknott Pass. The fort has been commonly known in recent times as Hardknott Castle, but identified from the Ravenna Cosmography as the Mediobogdo fort (or more correctly Mediobogdum^[1]), situated along the road between the forts of Galava (Ambleside) and Glannoventa (Ravenglass).

Classical history

National Trust/English Heritage Plaque at Hardknott Roman Fort.

Built between about AD 120 and 138, the fort was abandoned during the Antonine advance into Scotland during the mid 2nd century. The fort was reoccupied c. AD 200 and continued in use until the last years of the 4th century. During this time an extensive vicus developed outside the fort.^[2] The Roman garrison here was a detachment of 500 cavalry from the Dalmatian coast.

Physical description

The fort is square with rounded corners, 114 metres long externally, or 105 metres internally, the rampart wall being about 1.7 metres thick with ditches adding to the total width of the rampart. The low walls of the fort were "restored" some years ago, a slate course showing the height of the walls before their rebuilding.

The outer wall has four gates, at the centre of each side, and lookout towers at each corner. Within the walls are the remaining outlines of three buildings: a granary, a garrison headquarter building and a house for the garrison commander. In addition to these stone buildings, timber structures would have housed barracks for the legionaries.

Bath house at Hardknott

Outside the square of the fort is the remains of the bath house (which has a rare circular sudatorium), and the levelled parade ground, which is considered to be the finest surviving example in the Western Empire.^{[citation needed]}

The Modern site

The fort is on land owned by the National Trust, part of the Trust's Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon property, and maintained by English Heritage.

References

1. ^ Rivet, A L F; Smith, Colin (1979). The Place-Names of Roman Britain. London: B T Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-2077-4. 
2. ^ Jones, J S (2000). Hardknott Roman Fort. Kendal: Archaeological Society of Cumbria. 

External links

• Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon information at the National Trust
• Hardknott Roman Fort information at English Heritage
• iRomans Link to website showing Hardnott's position in relation to other roman forts in Cumbria