Milecastle 32 (Carraw) is one of the small fortlets built at approximately one Roman mile intervals along Hadrian's Wall, situated between Turret 31b and Turret 32a in the central sector east of Housesteads. Like its neighbours, it was constructed in the 120s AD under Hadrian and was occupied, with interruptions, into the late 4th century. It would have housed a small garrison detachment (perhaps 8–32 men) drawn from auxiliary units based at nearby forts, controlling a gateway through the Wall.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Its primary role was to monitor and control north–south movement through the frontier, functioning as a checkpoint for travellers, traders, and livestock rather than as an offensive military post. Located in the Carraw area between the forts of Brocolitia (Carrawburgh) and Cilurnum (Chesters), it formed part of the densely manned central wall sector.
Milecastle 32 has seen very little modern excavation; its position is known largely from the regular spacing of the Wall's milecastle system and limited surface and aerial observation, and it is not visible as substantial upstanding remains. No significant assemblage of finds has been published for this specific milecastle, and its plan type (long-axis or short-axis, and gate construction) is not securely established.
Milecastle 32 (Carraw) is one of the small fortlets built at approximately one Roman mile intervals along Hadrian's Wall, situated between Turret 31b and Turret 32a in the central sector east of Housesteads. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fortlet site from the Roman period in Britain.
Milecastle 32 (Carraw) is classified as a Roman fortlet — 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 Turret 32A (Carraw West) (0.5 km), Turret 31B (Carraw East) (0.5 km), Brown Moor Roman temporary camp (0.5 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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