Milefortlet 21 (Swarthy Hill) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These defences were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as reconstructed turf ramparts (to a height of about 1 metre (3.3 ft)) and ditch, reinstated to its original profile (also around 1 metre (3.3 ft)). They are located on a low cliff on the coast, north of the village of Crosscanonby, and just inland from the coastal road. It is the only milefortlet to have been fully excavated and is open to the public.
Milefortlet 21 was a long-axis milefortlet, constructed with 6 metres (20 ft) wide turf ramparts and timber gates. The ramparts were constructed from turf facings revetting a sand core, giving internal dimensions of 14.5 metres (48 ft) by 18 metres (59 ft).
The internal dimensions of the seaward gateway was 3 metres (9.8 ft) square, formed of four posts. Internal to the milefortlet was a road (no evidence of which was found outside the ramparts). To the south-west of the road there were three buildings; all apparently built on sleeper walls and of similar size, but not of the same layout. The seaward two shared a common wall, and the third was free standing. The most seaward contained a hearth, and the central building contained a furnace or oven. To the north-east of the road stood a single building, taking up most of the area, and having dimensions 18 metres (59 ft) by 5 metres (16 ft). The building was apparently divided into four, with the central bays each containing a hearth, and the outer bays each containing an oven.
The milefortlet was surrounded by a ditch on all but the seaward side. The ditch was broken by a causeway at the opposite end.
In 1968 aerial photographs revealed the cropmarks of the milefortlet's ditch. This was 70 yards (64 m) north-east of its predicted site.
In 1990-1991 a full excavation took place. Finds included: black burnished and grey ware (including cooking vessels); Samian ware; part of a bead; a gaming board; a knife; and an unidentified object that was probably an adze. The pottery finds were consistent with a single period of occupation (Hadrianic).
Each milefortlet had two associated towers, similar in construction to the turrets built along Hadrian's Wall. These towers were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milefortlet, and would probably have been manned by part of the nearest Milefortlet's garrison. The towers associated with Milefortlet 21 are known as Tower 21A and Tower 21B.
Tower 21A (Saltpans) (Location: 54.739903°N 3.460486°W / 54.739903; -3.460486 (Tower 21A)) was located south of the junction of the B5300 and Crosscanonby Road. Nothing remains of the tower, though the dismantling of the remains just before World War II was witnessed by a sandpit worker, who described them as similar to Tower 15A.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Milefortlet 21 (Swarthy Hill) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fortlet site from the Roman period in Britain.
Swarthy Hill 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 Swarthy Hill North tower 20b, 460m south west of Blue Dial, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast (0.5 km), Brownrigg North tower 21b, 830m north west of Canonby Hall, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast (1.1 km), Low Mire (milefortlet 20) 50m north of Heather Bank, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast (1.4 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.
This page covers the Roman site at Swarthy Hill. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this site alongside scheduled monuments and everything else the record holds within a few miles:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain, drawing on Roman heritage, Domesday records, scheduled monument data and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Swarthy Hill