Caermote is a Roman auxiliary fort in Cumbria, situated on a low ridge near the Ellen valley between Papcastle (Derventio) and Carlisle, controlling the road running south-west from Carlisle toward the Cumbrian coast. The visible earthworks comprise a larger first-century fort, likely Flavian in origin (c. AD 79–80s, in the context of Agricola's northern campaigns), with a smaller enclosure — interpreted as a second-century fortlet — set within or overlying part of it.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
The site formed part of the network of inland forts supporting the western frontier zone, linking the coastal system at Maryport and the hinterland forts behind Hadrian's Wall. Its sequence of a Flavian fort succeeded by a reduced fortlet reflects a common pattern of military downsizing in northern Britain once the Wall frontier was consolidated.
The fort survives mainly as cropmarks and low earthworks, with ramparts and ditches still traceable; it has never been extensively excavated, and dating rests largely on aerial photography, surface observation, and analogy with comparable Cumbrian forts. No substantial assemblage of finds, inscriptions, or garrison identification is recorded for the site.
Caermote is a Roman auxiliary fort in Cumbria, situated on a low ridge near the Ellen valley between Papcastle (Derventio) and Carlisle, controlling the road running south-west from Carlisle toward the Cumbrian coast. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Caermote Roman fort 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 Two Roman forts and three sections of Roman road at Caermote (0.2 km), Blennerhasset Roman fort, 300m south west of Harbybrow (4.6 km), Three Romano-British settlements, an irregular aggregate field system, and a bowl barrow on Aughertree Fell (6 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
Aubrey Research generates detailed historical reports for any location in Britain, incorporating Roman heritage, Domesday Book records, scheduled monument data, archaeological finds and much more. Enter a nearby address to begin.
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on Roman heritage, Domesday records, scheduled monument data, archaeological finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Caermote Roman fort