Battlefields›Defense of Housesteads fort (Vercovicium)
Roman Period

Defense of Housesteads fort (Vercovicium)

122–400
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Vercovicium garrison actions
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
tribal raiders c. 200–500.
VS
Victor
Romans (garrison)
Forces
Romans c. 500–800 garrison
Outcome
Housesteads held throughout Roman occupation; murder house excavation reveals violent death of at least one individual inside the fort
The Battle

History & Significance

Best-preserved fort on Hadrian's Wall; continuously garrisoned for nearly 300 years; excavations found a sword buried in a floor — evidence of violence within the fort itself

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Defense of Housesteads fort (Vercovicium)

Housesteads fort, section of Wall and vallum between the field boundary west of milecastle 36 and the field boundary west of turret 37a in wall miles 36 and 37
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Bowl barrow 420m south west of New Beggarbog
Scheduled monument · ~0.3 miles
Round cairn 450m north east of East Crindledikes
Scheduled monument · ~0.4 miles
Three prehistoric and Romano-British settlements and associated cord rig at Green Brae
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Bastle at Grandy's Knowe
Scheduled monument · ~0.8 miles
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