Milecastle 54 (Randylands) is a Hadrianic milecastle on the Turf Wall sector west of the River Irthing, located between Birdoswald (Banna) and Castlesteads (Camboglanna). Originally built in turf and timber c. AD 122–128 as part of the initial Turf Wall construction, it was later rebuilt in stone, probably during the Hadrianic or early Antonine reconstruction of this sector, and would have housed a small garrison detachment of perhaps 8–32 men controlling a gateway through the Wall.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
As one of the milecastles in the Turf Wall sector, Randylands is part of the evidence base for the two-phase construction history of Hadrian's Wall, where the original turf rampart was progressively replaced in stone. It is conventionally assigned (on the basis of comparison with MC 50TW) to the "long-axis" plan type, contributing to debate over which legion built this stretch.
The site was identified and partially examined in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the turf rampart traced and the stone milecastle's north and south walls located, but no modern open-area excavation has been undertaken and remains are largely subsurface. No significant artefactual assemblage or internal building plan has been published, and the site survives essentially as a low earthwork in pasture.
Milecastle 54 (Randylands) is a Hadrianic milecastle on the Turf Wall sector west of the River Irthing, located between Birdoswald (Banna) and Castlesteads (Camboglanna). It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fortlet site from the Roman period in Britain.
Milecastle 54 (Randylands) 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 53B (Craggle Hill) (0.5 km), Turret 54A (Garthside) (0.5 km), Turret 54B (Howgill) (1 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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