Leahill Turret, Hadrian's Wall
Encyclopedia
Leahill Turret is a typical example of one of the lookout towers located between the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall
in Cumbria
; located on the Lanercost
Road near Banks, Parish of Waterhead. It is designated turret 51b and lies east of the Signal Tower at Pike Hill
.
, Bankshead
, is 540 yards to the West, Turret 51A, Piper Syke, lying 540 yards to the East and Milecastle 51
, Bowers Wall 540 yards to the East of it.
This turret was until 1927 buried beneath the road, when excavations led to its discovery and also the discovery of the precise location of the turf wall that preceded the later stone structure. The new road formation was created behind the turrets and the wall. In 1958 Leahill turret was fully excavated prior to its consolidation.
This Roman turret was a detached structure abutting the Wall, with internal measurements 13 feet 8 inches North-South by 14 feet 6 inches East-West. The slight remains of the original turf wall to the East and West had been overlain by occupation materials. Leahill had been much robbed surviving only to a maximum height of 9 courses or approximately one metre height; a platform was found in the centre of the North wall and in the 4th century a shelter was built internally against the South wall. Several occupation layers were located prior to a stone flag floor being laid.
A small cottage, still occupied in living memory, once stood close by on the opposite side of the existing road and robbing also took place to supply material for the drystone dyking and the farm of Leahill.
The Roman fosse
is clearly defined in this area, except at Leahill Farm; as is the vallum
.
National Trail and Hadrian's Cycleway.
Metal detectorists have found a number of Roman coins in the area and a skeleton was uncovered during the 1958 excavations at Leahill Turret.
Leahill Turret was part of this event, garrisoned by two volunteers, marking the 1600th anniversary of the cessation of Roman rule in Britain in AD410 The 500 points of light were filmed by a helicopter at dusk.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
; located on the Lanercost
Lanercost
Lanercost is a village in the northern part of Cumbria, England. The settlement is in the civil parish of Burtholme, in the City of Carlisle local government district. Lanercost is known for the presence of Lanercost Priory and its proximity to Hadrian's Wall.-History:Lanercost Priory was founded...
Road near Banks, Parish of Waterhead. It is designated turret 51b and lies east of the Signal Tower at Pike Hill
Pike Hill Signal Tower
Pike Hill Signal Tower was one of a number of signal stations that were built along the Roman Stanegate in northern Britannia during the early 2nd century. It later became incorporated into Hadrian's Wall. Its remains, a long fragment of the south-east wall, lie south of a modern road cutting and...
.
Location
Leahill Turret lies on the lower slope of Allieshaw Rigg; Milecastle 52Milecastle 52
Milecastle 52 , one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated to the west of Birdoswald fort ....
, Bankshead
Milestone
A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile. They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers, mileposts or mile posts...
, is 540 yards to the West, Turret 51A, Piper Syke, lying 540 yards to the East and Milecastle 51
Milecastle 51
Milecastle 51 , one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated to the west of Birdoswald fort , at the point where the Stone Wall rejoins the line of the Turf Wall....
, Bowers Wall 540 yards to the East of it.
History
Leahill 51b was built shortly after AD 122 as part of Hadrian's Wall, dismantled under the Emperor Severus and casually re-occupied late in the 4th century. Such lookout towers were only occupied on a temporary basis by soldiers who were patrolling the wall.This turret was until 1927 buried beneath the road, when excavations led to its discovery and also the discovery of the precise location of the turf wall that preceded the later stone structure. The new road formation was created behind the turrets and the wall. In 1958 Leahill turret was fully excavated prior to its consolidation.
This Roman turret was a detached structure abutting the Wall, with internal measurements 13 feet 8 inches North-South by 14 feet 6 inches East-West. The slight remains of the original turf wall to the East and West had been overlain by occupation materials. Leahill had been much robbed surviving only to a maximum height of 9 courses or approximately one metre height; a platform was found in the centre of the North wall and in the 4th century a shelter was built internally against the South wall. Several occupation layers were located prior to a stone flag floor being laid.
A small cottage, still occupied in living memory, once stood close by on the opposite side of the existing road and robbing also took place to supply material for the drystone dyking and the farm of Leahill.
The Roman fosse
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
is clearly defined in this area, except at Leahill Farm; as is the vallum
Vallum
Vallum is a term applied either to the whole or a portion of the fortifications of a Roman camp. The vallum usually comprised an earthen or turf rampart with a wooden palisade on top, with a deep outer ditch...
.
Micro-history
The road running past Leahill is followed by both the Hadrian's Wall PathHadrian's Wall Path
The Hadrian’s Wall Path is a long distance footpath in the north of England, which became the 15th National Trail in 2003. It runs for , from Wallsend on the east coast of Great Britain to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast. The path runs through urban areas, and over moors...
National Trail and Hadrian's Cycleway.
Metal detectorists have found a number of Roman coins in the area and a skeleton was uncovered during the 1958 excavations at Leahill Turret.
Illuminating Hadrian's Wall
On 13 March 2010, all 84 miles of Hadrian's Wall was illuminated from Tyneside to Cumbria with points of light. The route was lit by 500 gas beacons, flares and torches at 250m intervals, with the assistance of over 1000 volunteers.Leahill Turret was part of this event, garrisoned by two volunteers, marking the 1600th anniversary of the cessation of Roman rule in Britain in AD410 The 500 points of light were filmed by a helicopter at dusk.