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Coordinates: 54°59′20″N 2°34′25″W / 54.988991°N 2.573518°W / 54.988991; -2.573518
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'''Milecastle 48 (The King's Stables)''', one of the [[milecastle]]s on [[Hadrian's Wall]], is situated just outside the village of [[Gilsland]] in [[Cumbria]] immediately adjacent to the [[Tyne Valley Line]] ([[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]] NY63406620). It has been known locally as "The King's Stables"<ref name="gibson">Gibson, J.P. & Simpson, F.G. 1911. "The Milecastle on the Wall of Hadrian at the Poltross Burn"; ''Trans. CWAAS XI (New Series)'' '''Art XXIII''' pp390–461</ref> for over 100 years but recently the heritage industry has begun to call it [[Poltross Burn]] Milecastle.
'''Milecastle 48 (The King's Stables)''', one of the [[milecastle]]s on [[Hadrian's Wall]], is situated just outside the village of [[Gilsland]] in [[Cumbria]] immediately adjacent to the [[Tyne Valley Line]] ([[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]] NY63406620). It has been known locally as "The King's Stables"<ref name="gibson">Gibson, J.P. & Simpson, F.G. 1911. "The Milecastle on the Wall of Hadrian at the Poltross Burn"; ''Trans. CWAAS XI (New Series)'' '''Art XXIII''' pp390–461</ref> for over 100 years but recently the heritage industry has begun to call it [[Poltross Burn]] Milecastle.


The milecastle measures 18.5m east to west by 21.3m north to south, substantially larger than most other milecastles<ref name="bird">Bird, W.G. 1913. ''Gilsland and Neighbourhood''; Gregg, Gilsland</ref>. Two rows of buildings are visible within, probably [[barracks]], one either side of the north-south road running through the gateways. Interior buildings are not normally so well-preserved or substantial in other milecastles<ref name="bird" />. The walls are [[Broad Wall|broad gauge]], including stub '[[wing wall]]s' which connect with the [[Narrow Wall]] [[Curtain wall (fortification)|curtain]] of Hadrian's Wall on either side. It has [[Milecastle gateways|Type III gateways]]. It lies 1521m west of [[Milecastle 47]] and 1458m east of [[Milecastle 49]].
The milecastle measures 18.5m east to west by 21.3m north to south, substantially larger than many other milecastles<ref name="bird">Bird, W.G. 1913. ''Gilsland and Neighbourhood''; Gregg, Gilsland</ref>. Two rows of buildings are visible within, probably [[barracks]], one either side of the north-south road running through the gateways. Interior buildings are not normally so well-preserved or substantial in other milecastles<ref name="bird" />. The walls are [[Broad Wall|broad gauge]], including stub '[[wing wall]]s' which connect with the [[Narrow Wall]] [[Curtain wall (fortification)|curtain]] of Hadrian's Wall on either side. It has [[Milecastle gateways|Type III gateways]]. It lies 1521m west of [[Milecastle 47]] and 1458m east of [[Milecastle 49]].


An interesting feature of this milecastle is the survival of a substantial part of the flight of stairs giving access to the ramparts of Hadrian's Wall in the north-east corner, allowing a wall-walk height of 3.6m to be projected and suggesting a height for the curtain wall (including [[parapet]]) of around 4.6m.
An interesting feature of this milecastle is the survival of a substantial part of the flight of stairs giving access to the ramparts of Hadrian's Wall in the north-east corner, allowing a wall-walk height of 3.6m to be projected and suggesting a height for the curtain wall (including [[parapet]]) of around 4.6m.

Revision as of 17:47, 11 August 2012

The remains of Milecastle 48
Turret 48A
Turret 48B

Milecastle 48 (The King's Stables), one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated just outside the village of Gilsland in Cumbria immediately adjacent to the Tyne Valley Line (OS grid reference NY63406620). It has been known locally as "The King's Stables"[1] for over 100 years but recently the heritage industry has begun to call it Poltross Burn Milecastle.

The milecastle measures 18.5m east to west by 21.3m north to south, substantially larger than many other milecastles[2]. Two rows of buildings are visible within, probably barracks, one either side of the north-south road running through the gateways. Interior buildings are not normally so well-preserved or substantial in other milecastles[2]. The walls are broad gauge, including stub 'wing walls' which connect with the Narrow Wall curtain of Hadrian's Wall on either side. It has Type III gateways. It lies 1521m west of Milecastle 47 and 1458m east of Milecastle 49.

An interesting feature of this milecastle is the survival of a substantial part of the flight of stairs giving access to the ramparts of Hadrian's Wall in the north-east corner, allowing a wall-walk height of 3.6m to be projected and suggesting a height for the curtain wall (including parapet) of around 4.6m.

Milecastle 48 was excavated in 1909 by J.P. Gibson and F.G. Simpson[1]. The monument is currently in the care of English Heritage.

This milecastle was built by the Sixth Legion but manned by auxiliary troops, and was occupied until the Fourth Century AD, according to the English Heritage placard at the site.

References

  1. ^ a b Gibson, J.P. & Simpson, F.G. 1911. "The Milecastle on the Wall of Hadrian at the Poltross Burn"; Trans. CWAAS XI (New Series) Art XXIII pp390–461
  2. ^ a b Bird, W.G. 1913. Gilsland and Neighbourhood; Gregg, Gilsland

Media related to Milecastle 48 at Wikimedia Commons

54°59′20″N 2°34′25″W / 54.988991°N 2.573518°W / 54.988991; -2.573518

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