Roman BritainMilecastle 58 (Newtown)
Roman Fortlet · Military

Milecastle 58 (Newtown)

Roman Britain
Pleiades ID: 967060265
Site type
Fortlet
Category
Military
Latitude
54.9554
Longitude
-2.7856
Overview

History & context

Milecastle 58 (Newtown) is one of the small fortlets built at roughly Roman-mile intervals along Hadrian's Wall, constructed in the 120s AD under Hadrian and occupied, with interruptions, into the late 4th century. It lies on the central-western stretch of the Wall west of Cambeckhill, in the sector running down towards the Irthing valley, and would have housed a small garrison detachment (probably 8–32 men) controlling a gateway through the Wall.

Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →

Significance

Historical significance

As part of the regular Wall system, MC58 functioned as a controlled crossing point and observation post, monitoring movement between the province and the territory to the north, and providing patrol coverage of the curtain between turrets 57B and 58A. It is not individually distinguished in the historical record, but contributes to the well-attested pattern of stone-built milecastles in the central sector of the Wall.

Archaeology

Archaeological record

Very little has been excavated at Milecastle 58 itself; its position is known largely from antiquarian observation and survey along the Wall line, and like several milecastles in this sector it has been heavily reduced by later agricultural activity. No major published assemblage of finds, inscriptions, or structural detail is associated with it, and its plan (long-axis or short-axis, gate type) is not securely established without further fieldwork.

About this site

Questions & answers

What is Milecastle 58 (Newtown)?

Milecastle 58 (Newtown) is one of the small fortlets built at roughly Roman-mile intervals along Hadrian's Wall, constructed in the 120s AD under Hadrian and occupied, with interruptions, into the late 4th century. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fortlet site from the Roman period in Britain.

What type of Roman site is Milecastle 58 (Newtown)?

Milecastle 58 (Newtown) 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.

What other Roman sites are near Milecastle 58 (Newtown)?

Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Turret 57B (0.5 km), Turret 58A (0.5 km), Turret 57A (Beck) (1 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.

How can I research the history of the area around Milecastle 58 (Newtown)?

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