Pike Hill Signal Tower
Encyclopedia
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 2 metres (6.6 ft) long fragment of the south-east wall, lie south of a modern road cutting and field wall, and are located in the parish of Waterhead in Cumbria
, United Kingdom
. The tower is located between Turret 51B
and Turret 52A
with the fort of Banna located to the east.
phase of fortifying the northern frontier of the Roman province
of Britannia. Signalling towers and a number of forts were built along the line of the Roman road that connected significant military forts at Corbridge
and Carlisle
. This followed the withdrawal of the Roman army from Scotland around AD 100 and was prior to the construction of Hadrian's Wall which started in AD 125. The station at Pike Hill signalled to two nearby stations, Gillalees Beacon and Barrock Fell.
As Hadrian's Wall was extended through the area, the signal tower came to be incorporated alongside the newly constructed wall. The tower's location put it about 200 metres (656.2 ft) east of Turret 52A (Banks East) and west of Turret 51B
(Leahill Turret).
It has been suggested that the signal tower was manned by part of Milecastle 52
's garrison. The extra size of Milecastle 52 (20% larger than any other milecastle) has been cited as evidence for this.
The signal tower was a square structure measuring around 6 metres (19.7 ft) on each side. The tower was built on a platform of mortared rubble and deep foundations have been found which indicate an upper structure of some extra height. The masonry was finished to a higher standard than the turrets found on the wall.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
Stanegate
Stanegate
The Stanegate, or "stone road" , was an important Roman road built in what is now northern England. It linked two forts that guarded important river crossings; Corstopitum in the east, situated on Dere Street, and Luguvalium in the west...
in northern Britannia
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
during the early 2nd century. It later became incorporated into Hadrian's Wall
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...
. Its remains, a 2 metres (6.6 ft) long fragment of the south-east wall, lie south of a modern road cutting and field wall, and are located in the parish of Waterhead 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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The tower is located between Turret 51B
Leahill Turret, Hadrian's Wall
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...
and Turret 52A
Milecastle 52
Milecastle 52 , one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated to the west of Birdoswald fort ....
with the fort of Banna located to the east.
History
A signalling tower was built on Pike Hill during the StanegateStanegate
The Stanegate, or "stone road" , was an important Roman road built in what is now northern England. It linked two forts that guarded important river crossings; Corstopitum in the east, situated on Dere Street, and Luguvalium in the west...
phase of fortifying the northern frontier of the Roman province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Britannia. Signalling towers and a number of forts were built along the line of the Roman road that connected significant military forts at Corbridge
Corbridge
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:...
and Carlisle
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
. This followed the withdrawal of the Roman army from Scotland around AD 100 and was prior to the construction of Hadrian's Wall which started in AD 125. The station at Pike Hill signalled to two nearby stations, Gillalees Beacon and Barrock Fell.
As Hadrian's Wall was extended through the area, the signal tower came to be incorporated alongside the newly constructed wall. The tower's location put it about 200 metres (656.2 ft) east of Turret 52A (Banks East) and west of Turret 51B
Leahill Turret, Hadrian's Wall
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...
(Leahill Turret).
It has been suggested that the signal tower was manned by part of Milecastle 52
Milecastle 52
Milecastle 52 , one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated to the west of Birdoswald fort ....
's garrison. The extra size of Milecastle 52 (20% larger than any other milecastle) has been cited as evidence for this.
Construction
Archaeological investigations have shown that the tower was built prior to either the turf or stone walls that exist nearby. The tower was offset from the wall and stood at an angle of 45° to the line of the wall. The purpose of this was to improve the visibility of the signal. A ditch lies to the north of the tower, following the same course as the tower resulting in a zig-zag line.The signal tower was a square structure measuring around 6 metres (19.7 ft) on each side. The tower was built on a platform of mortared rubble and deep foundations have been found which indicate an upper structure of some extra height. The masonry was finished to a higher standard than the turrets found on the wall.
Excavations and investigations
- 1931 - The remains were excavated and consolidated. Finds included:
- Pottery dating to the HadrianHadrianHadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
ic period; - Rims of cooking pots known as Huntcliff wareHuntcliff wareHuntcliff ware or more correctly 'Huntcliff-type' is a type of Romano-British ceramic. It is a distinctive variety of calcite-gritted ware jar with a curved, everted rim with lid-seated groove, made in East Yorkshire from around AD 360 to the 5th century AD. The fabric is black or dark brown and...
, indicating occupation as late as the latter half of the 4th century.
- Pottery dating to the Hadrian
- 1971 - English HeritageEnglish HeritageEnglish Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Field Investigation. It was noted that the modern road cutting has led to the destruction of the majority of the structure, only a fragment of the south-east wall remaining visible.
Monument records
| Monument | Monument Number | National Monuments Record Number |
| Pike Hill Signal Tower | 12700 | NY 56 SE 18 |