- Milecastle 4
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Coordinates: 54°58′12″N 1°37′04″W / 54.969948°N 1.617812°W
Milecastle 4 
Milecastle 4
Milecastle 4 shown within Tyne and WearOS grid reference NZ24526401 List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear 
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Military of ancient Rome (portal)
753 BC – AD 476Structural history Roman army (unit types and ranks, legions, auxiliaries, generals) Roman navy (fleets, admirals) Campaign history Lists of wars and battles Decorations and punishments Technological history Military engineering (castra, siege engines, arches, roads) Political history Strategy and tactics Infantry tactics Frontiers and fortifications (limes, Hadrian's Wall) Milecastle 4 (Westgate Road) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist beneath the Newcastle Arts Centre at 67-75 Westgate Road. This position is some way away from its predicted position[1] which is at these coordinates: 54°58′14″N 1°36′31″W / 54.970440°N 1.608669°W The actual location is between the predicted positions of Turrets 4A and 4B, which has led to suggestions that the numbering and positioning of milecastles and turrets on this part of Hadrian's Wall should be reconsidered.[2]
Contents
Construction
Milecastle 4 was a long-axis milecastle of unknown gateway type. Such milecastles were thought to have been constructed by either the legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York), or the Legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based in Deva Victrix (Chester).[3]
The milecastle was 14.9 metres (49 ft) wide and probably 18 metres (20 yd) long. The excavated south wall was 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) wide and bonded with clay. Its foundations were 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) wide (as were those of the east wall and formed of flags (flag foundations are normally associated with broad wall milecastles.) There was evidence to suggest that the southern gateway had been blocked at some time.[1]
Excavations and investigations
- 1929 and 1930 - Roman pottery was discovered 1,575 yards (1,440 m) along the line of the wall from Milecastle 3. This was taken to be the site of Milecastle 4.[4]
- 1961 - Birley accepts the above location.[5]
- 1985 - The south-west corner of the milecastle was found, and further excavation took place.[1]
Associated Turrets
Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 4 are known as Turret 4A and Turret 4B, however the established milecastle position is between the supposed turret positions.
Turret 4A
Nothing is known of Turret 4A. Due to the discovery of Milecastle 4 further west than the measured position of this turret, there is no monument record or assumed position.
Turret 4B
Nothing is known of Turret 4B. Due to the discovery of Milecastle 4 further west than the measured position of Turret 4A, it is extremel;y unlikely that the positions assumed by Birley[5] were accurate. However, a monument record exists for that location. [6]
Location: 54°59′37″N 1°44′12″W / 54.993672°N 1.736733°WMonument Records
Monument Monument Number National Monuments Record Number Milecastle 4 623285 NZ 26 SW 118 Original Milecastle Site 24917 NZ 26 SE 18 Turret 4A n/a n/a Turret 4B 25023 NZ 26 SW 2 References
- ^ a b c Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition - Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 150–151, ISBN 0901082651
- ^ Barbara Harbottle, R. Fraser, F. C. Burton, J. N. Dore, P. J. Casey and J. P. Huntley (1988), Britannia, Vol. 19 - The Westgate Road Milecastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
- ^ David J Breeze and Brian Dobson (1976). Hadrian's Wall. Allen Lane. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0140271821.
- ^ Hope Dodds, Madeleine (1930), A History of Northumberland, 13 (first ed.), Andrew Reid, Sons & Co, pp. 498
- ^ a b Birley, Eric B (1961), Research on Hadrian's Wall, Titus Wilson & Son, pp. 162
- ^ "Turret 4B". Pastscape. English Heritage. http://www.pastscape.org/hob.aspx?hob_id=25023. Retrieved XX May 2010.
Bibliography
- Daniels, Charles (1979), "Review: Fact and Theory on Hadrian's Wall", Britannia 10: 357–364, JSTOR 526069
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