Roman Fort E of Hindwell Farm

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises buried features and earthworks representing a Roman fort. The primary Roman fort network was designed and constructed by the Roman army for the purpose of military conquest and rule. The fort at Hindwell Farm probably housed an auxiliary unit and occupies a level terrace c.200m to the north of the Summergil Brook, within the Walton Basin. It is difficult to give precise dimensions because the southern, and part of the western, lines of defence are not clearly known, but it was probably c.155m north-north-east to south-south-west by c.148m. On the ground the surviving defensive bank rises to c.0.3m at most, and is clearest on the east. Trial excavation and geophysical survey at various times have indicated that the fort is probably of two phases, and that the interior was quite intensively occupied, though only a principia (headquarters building) could be clearly identified. A roadway runs across the site from west to east and is traceable further in both directions. Traces of a vicus (civilian settlement) were identified outside the east gate. The limited finds suggest that the fort’s foundation may date to the period between AD 55-65, but it is not clear how much later activity would have continued.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Roman military organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider context of the Roman occupation of Wales and the structures may contain well preserved archaeological evidence concerning chronology, layout and building techniques. It is not entirely clear how the fort may relate to the two temporary camps to the west of Hindwell Farm (within Scheduled Monument no. RD247) and the three further temporary camps c.700m to the south-west of the site (Scheduled Monument no. RD138).

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.