A Roman Fort and 3 Roman Camps

Location

Troutbeck Roman Fort is about 7 miles west of Penrith close to the A66, 8 miles from the fort at Old Penrith and 10 miles from Brougham. The camps are west, north and east of the fort, half a mile or less from the fort, which they probably pre-date.

The Fort

Troutbeck was probably built at the end of the 1st century for troops returning from Scotland, as part of the project to control the south and west of Cumbria bypassed during the initial invasion. It was just over 3 acres measuring 392ft by 412ft, sufficient for an infantry cohort of unknown origin. Their earth walls were 30ft feet thick, which is wider than normal.

It had 4 gates on the south east corner where there was an annex measuring about 300ft by 210ft. Troutbeck had 2 periods of occupation, which is not easy to explain.

Troutbeck was strategically located on high ground at the head of the River Glenderamackin and Troutbeck, and bisected by the Old Penrith and Keswick Road north of the A66 current trunk road. The fort was only found in 1973. A Roman road has been identified heading to Old Penrith, which possibly went to Keswick and on to Papcastle. It is likely there was a road to Brougham, which has not been identified.

Troutbeck Roman Fort has no dating evidence, it was abandoned either when the Wall was built (circa 130AD) or 10 years later with the second invasion of “Scotland”.

Camp 1

Located about a hundred years west of the fort, the camp covered 10 acres. The camp was bisected by the Old Penrith and Keswick Road. The gates have internal clavicula as Chow Green (read the description), which dates no later than the very early 2nd century). It is large enough for about 2,000 troops. It was probably occupied for a matter of days.

We know west Cumbria was bye passed in the early invasion of the north about 72 AD, and it was only 15 years later that it was taken under Roman control, this scenario may apply to camp2 as well.

Camp 2

The camp is located 200 yards north east of the fort. It is large, 24 acres sufficient for a legion or 10 cohorts if ancillary cohorts are included which is likely. Again the gates have internal clavicula, stone and wood may have been in short supply. It is possible it was occupied just overnight. A camp this size would have been unusual after the initial invasion in the 70s AD.

Camp 3

Camp 3 is small but the most easily identified from aerial photographs, which possibly means it had heavier fortifications. The best guest it was a camp for the troops, which constructed the fort, occupying the site for about 3 months with 500 builders. Again the gates have internal clavicula.