Corbridge Roman Site

Corbridge Roman site sits in the middle of some beautiful Northumbrian countryside, part of what is now known as Hadrian’s Wall Country. The Romans first arrived in this area in AD79, at which time the south east of England had been part of the Empire for around 30 years, but the north of the country was still being opened up; the force was led by Julius Agricola, the Governor of Britain, who was marching north with the intention of extending Roman rule throughout the whole of the island. The first development at Corbridge was a basic supply depot to feed and equip the army on its route into Scotland. Around 10 years later, the depot was abandoned and the first fort ...

The Romans came to Corbridge in 79AD, constructing a timber fort with earthen defences to supply the troops advancing into Scotland. Destroyed by fire almost thirty years later the fort was rebuilt, improved by the legions constructing Hadrian's Wall, and then completely refurbished in stone around 140AD when the Emperor Antonius Pius, abandoning his predecessor's fixed border policy, pushed north to the River Clyde and the Firth of Forth. Following the return of the northern frontier to Hadrian's Wall in 163AD the military function of the fort was downgraded in favour of a civilian settlement catering to the off-duty legionnaires. The new town prospered over ...