Branodunum was a Roman fort on the north Norfolk coast, established in the early-to-mid third century A.D. and forming the northernmost link in the Saxon Shore chain (*Litus Saxonicum*) defending the eastern and southern coasts of Britain against seaborne raiders. It was a roughly square enclosure of about 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) with stone walls, projecting bastions, and ditches, garrisoned according to the *Notitia Dignitatum* by the *Equites Dalmatae Branodunenses* under the *Comes Litoris Saxonici*.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
As the northern anchor of the Saxon Shore system, Branodunum controlled access to the Wash and the inland waterways of the Fens, working in concert with Burgh Castle (Gariannonum) to the south to monitor coastal traffic and intercept raiders. Its cavalry garrison suggests a role in rapid response across the flat coastal hinterland as well as static defence.
The walls have largely been robbed out, but aerial photography, geophysical survey, and limited excavation (notably by St Joseph and subsequent National Trust–sponsored work) have revealed the fort's outline, internal road grid, and substantial extramural settlements (*vici*) flanking the east and west sides, including evidence of timber buildings, industrial activity, and finds of
Branodunum was a Roman fort on the north Norfolk coast, established in the early-to-mid third century A.D. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Branodunum is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Thornham Roman Signal Station (5.8 km), Roman barrow 125m south west of Leath House (7.1 km), Romano-British villa 400m west of White House (10.7 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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