Roman Fortlet (R) OS 6" map, 1962 Roman Fortlet, Redshaw Burn: This fortlet, which was discovered from the air in 1939 (S N Miller 1952), is situated 560 m SE of the summit of Errickstane Hill, about 75 m S of the point where the Roman road from Carlisle to the Forth (RR 7f) crosses the westernmost of the twin heads of the Redshaw Burn. Here the road has climbed to a height of 365 m O D, and the position of the fortlet has been chosen to command a view down the narrow valley of the Evan Water. Rectangular on plan (q.v.) with rounded angles, the fortlet measures 19.8 m form E to W by 17.4 m transversely within a rampart about 5.5 m thick but now not much more than 0.3 m in height. The entrance, about 4.0 m wide, is in the centre of the N side, facing the Roman road. From the E side of the entrance to the SW angle there are double ditches, but at some point on the W side of the fortlet, where erosion of the steep left bank of the burn has partly destroyed the defences, the two ditches united, and only a single ditch is present between the NW angle and the W side of the gate. The inner ditch averages 3.0 m in width and the outer one 2.1 m, but neither is more than 0.3 m deep at the present time. Intermittent traces of a low mound 3.0 m in width, which can be seen leading from the metalled (18th century) road in the direction of the entrance of the fortlet, may represent an original service-track. Subsequently, however, this approach was blocked by the creation of what was in essence a small annexe, access into which could be obtained only from the E. The E side of the annexe is formed by an outward extension of the ditch terminals to the E of the Gate, and the N side by a bank and ditch, 30 m long, whose W ends formerly rested on the bank of the burn. In addition to its main purpose of preventing a direct attack on the entrance, the annexe may also have served as a waggon park for small convoys passing up and down the road. This fortlet, which has not been excavated, was occupied in the 2nd/3rd centuries AD. It is one of the smallest of its class (0.8 ha - 0.2 acres in area), and could only have held about forty men. RCAHMS 1978, visited 1972 Surveyed at 1:10,560. Visited by OS (W D J) 13 August 1959 Deep furrow ploughing by the Forestry Commission is now taking place, but a 20 m space around the fortlet has been left undisturbed. Visited by OS (E C W) 28 March 1974. NT 030 139 A fragmentary large rectangular lead sheet was found close to Redshaw Burn Roman fortlet. The flanged edges and perforations suggest it may have come from a tank lining.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Roman Fortlet (R) OS 6" map, 1962 Roman Fortlet, Redshaw Burn: This fortlet, which was discovered from the air in 1939 (S N Miller 1952), is situated 560 m SE of the summit of Errickstane Hill, about 75 m S of the point where the Roman road from Carlisle to the Forth (RR 7f) crosses the westernmost of the twin heads of the Redshaw Burn. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fortlet site from the Roman period in Britain.
Redshaw Burn 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 Crawford (10.7 km), Tassiesholm (14 km), Wandel (15.4 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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This page covers the Roman site at Redshaw Burn. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this site alongside scheduled monuments and everything else the record holds within a few miles:
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