Scheduled Monuments›England›Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast

Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast

England

List entry 1014810

Nation

England

Boundary

Scheduled area

Overview

History & significance

Swarthy Hill North tower 20b is a Roman coastal fortification forming part of the defensive system that protected the north-western frontier of Roman Britain along the Cumbrian littoral. Located approximately 460 metres south-west of Blue Dial in Cumberland, this tower dates to the later Roman period and represents the substantial investment in coastal security during the later empire. The structure functioned as part of a coordinated chain of towers and fortified positions designed to guard against maritime threats and maintain control of this strategically significant coastline. The monument survives as a scheduled ancient monument and contributes to the archaeological understanding of Roman military organisation and frontier management in northern Britain.

Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1014810. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast?

Swarthy Hill North tower 20b is a Roman coastal fortification forming part of the defensive system that protected the north-western frontier of Roman Britain along the Cumbrian littoral. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1014810.

Who is responsible for protecting Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast?

Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1014810.

What other scheduled monuments are near Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Roman cremation cemetery, 380m south east of Maryport Roman fort (4.4 km), Netherhall (4.7 km), Medieval site in Netherhall Park, left bank of River Ellen (4.8 km).

Nearby

Other scheduled monuments within 10 km

Roman cremation cemetery, 380m south east of Maryport Roman fort

4.4 km

Netherhall

4.7 km

Medieval site in Netherhall Park, left bank of River Ellen

4.8 km

18th century bottle works on Irish Street, 200m north of Mote Hill

5.3 km

Coke ovens at the southern end of Furnace Road

5.3 km

Castle Hill motte and site of a World War II gun emplacement

5.5 km

Romano-British settlement and trackway at Ewanrigg

6.3 km

Rise How tower 25a, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast including remains of prehistoric burial mound and early medieval kiln

6.9 km

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