Habitancum
Encyclopedia
Habitancum was an ancient Roman
fort
(castra
) located at Risingham, Northumberland
, England
. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere Street
, a Roman road running from York
to Corbridge
and onwards to Melrose.
The forts name, Habitancum, is mentioned in the Ravenna Cosmography
, but not in the Notitia Dignitatum
, or other sources. Habitancum is also the name on an altar set up by Marcus Gavius Secundinus a consular beneficiary on duty there.
(Coria
) and 8 miles (13 km) south of Rochester
(Bremenium
), the next Roman fort on Dere Street. It is west of the A68 road
between Corbridge and Jedburgh, where the road crosses the River Rede
at the village of West Woodburn
. At this point Dere Street deviates westwards of the A68 and rejoins it a mile or two further north.
The fort had gates in the south and west walls. There may have been gates in the other walls but no sign of them has been found. The walls were of sandstone ashlar, backed by a clay bank thirty feet thick.
At the end of the 2nd century the fort was either abandoned or destroyed when large numbers of Roman troops were withdrawn. Later, the fort was rebuilt by the First Cohort of Vangiones
, one thousand strong.
, as well as a Numerus Exploratorum (Unit of Scouts) and a detachment of Raeti
Gaesati (pikemen).
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
fort
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
(castra
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
) located at Risingham, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
, a Roman road running from York
Eboracum
Eboracum was a fort and city in Roman Britain. The settlement evolved into York, located in North Yorkshire, England.-Etymology:The first known recorded mention of Eboracum by name is dated circa 95-104 AD and is an address containing the Latin form of the settlement's name, "Eburaci", on a wooden...
to Corbridge
Coria (Corbridge)
Coria was a fort and town, located south of Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. Its full Latin name is uncertain. Today it is known as Corchester or Corbridge Roman Site, adjoining Corbridge in the English county of Northumberland...
and onwards to Melrose.
The forts name, Habitancum, is mentioned in the Ravenna Cosmography
Ravenna Cosmography
The Ravenna Cosmography was compiled by an anonymous cleric in Ravenna around AD 700. It consists of a list of place-names covering the world from India to Ireland. Textual evidence indicates that the author frequently used maps as his source....
, but not in the Notitia Dignitatum
Notitia Dignitatum
The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. One of the very few surviving documents of Roman government, it details the administrative organisation of the eastern and western empires, listing several thousand offices from the imperial court down to the provincial...
, or other sources. Habitancum is also the name on an altar set up by Marcus Gavius Secundinus a consular beneficiary on duty there.
Location
The fort is situated 13 miles (21 km) north of CorbridgeCorbridge
Corbridge is a village in Northumberland, England, situated west of Newcastle and east of Hexham. Villages in the vicinity include Halton, Acomb, Aydon and Sandhoe.-Roman fort and town:...
(Coria
Coria (Corbridge)
Coria was a fort and town, located south of Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. Its full Latin name is uncertain. Today it is known as Corchester or Corbridge Roman Site, adjoining Corbridge in the English county of Northumberland...
) and 8 miles (13 km) south of Rochester
Rochester, Northumberland
Rochester is a small village and civil parish in north Northumberland, England. It is five miles north-east of Otterburn on the A68 road between Corbridge and Jedburgh...
(Bremenium
Bremenium
Bremenium was an ancient Roman fort located at Rochester, Northumberland, England. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere Street, a Roman road running from York to Corbridge and onwards to Melrose....
), the next Roman fort on Dere Street. It is west of the A68 road
A68 road
The A68 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Darlington in England to the A720 in Scotland.From Darlington, the road runs north, bypassing Bishop Auckland, and running through West Auckland, Toft Hill and Tow Law, past Consett and Corbridge...
between Corbridge and Jedburgh, where the road crosses the River Rede
River Rede
The Rede is a river in Northumberland, England. The river rises on Carter Fell on the Anglo-Scottish border feeding Catcleugh Reservoir and joins the River North Tyne below the village of Redesmouth-See also:*Carter Bar*List of places in Northumberland...
at the village of West Woodburn
West Woodburn
West Woodburn is a village in north-western Northumberland, England.The 2001 census recorded a population of 492 in the Parish Council area of Corsenside of which West Woodburn is the main settlement....
. At this point Dere Street deviates westwards of the A68 and rejoins it a mile or two further north.
Description
The fort occupies a low mound overlooking the River Rede. It is oblong in shape and measures 450 feet (137.2 m) north to south, and 400 feet (121.9 m) east to west, giving an area of just over 4 acres (16,187.4 m²). It was surrounded by a number of ditches, which can still be seen on the south and west sides.The fort had gates in the south and west walls. There may have been gates in the other walls but no sign of them has been found. The walls were of sandstone ashlar, backed by a clay bank thirty feet thick.
At the end of the 2nd century the fort was either abandoned or destroyed when large numbers of Roman troops were withdrawn. Later, the fort was rebuilt by the First Cohort of Vangiones
Vangiones
The Vangiones appear first in history as an ancient Germanic tribe of unknown provenience. They threw in their lot with Ariovistus in his bid of 58 BC to invade Gaul through the Doubs river valley and lost to Julius Caesar in a battle probably near Belfort...
, one thousand strong.
Garrison
The 2nd-century garrison is not known for certain, but may have been the Fourth Cohort of Gauls. The 3rd-century garrison was the First Cohort of VangionesVangiones
The Vangiones appear first in history as an ancient Germanic tribe of unknown provenience. They threw in their lot with Ariovistus in his bid of 58 BC to invade Gaul through the Doubs river valley and lost to Julius Caesar in a battle probably near Belfort...
, as well as a Numerus Exploratorum (Unit of Scouts) and a detachment of Raeti
Raetia
Raetia was a province of the Roman Empire, named after the Rhaetian people. It was bounded on the west by the country of the Helvetii, on the east by Noricum, on the north by Vindelicia, on the west by Cisalpine Gaul and on south by Venetia et Histria...
Gaesati (pikemen).