Condercum

Condercum
The Vallum crossing at Condercum
Location in Tyne and Wear
Founded	122 - 124 AD
Abandoned	c. 5th century AD
Place in the Roman world
Province	Britannia
Structure
— Stone structure —
Size and area	170 m × 120 m (2 ha)
Stationed military units
— Legions —
vexill. II Augusta, vexill. XX Valeria Victrix
— Cohorts —
I Vangionum
— Alae —
I Hispanorum Asturum
Location
Coordinates	54.976°N 1.663°W / 54.976; -1.663
Town	Newcastle upon Tyne
County	Tyne and Wear
Country	England
Reference
UK-OSNG reference	NZ216646

Condercum on 1964 OS map

Plan of Condercum fort

Condercum was a Roman fort on the site of the modern-day Condercum Estate in Benwell, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was the third fort on Hadrian's Wall, about 6.8 miles east of Rudchester fort and only 2.4 miles west of Pons Aelius fort (Newcastle), and was situated on a hilltop 2 miles (3 km) to the west of the city.

Today, little can be seen of the fort or its adjoining wall, as the site is covered by a modern reservoir and housing estate, bisected by the A186 Newcastle to Carlisle road, which follows the line of Hadrian's Wall. The remains of a small temple dedicated to Antenociticus, a local deity, can be seen nearby, and the original causeway over the Vallum, or rear ditch.

History

The fort was built between 122 and 124 AD by the Legion Legio II Augusta. The fort had two granaries built by a detachment from the British Fleet, likely from nearby Arbeia fort, probably because the legionaries responsible for construction of the fort had been called away.

The Vallum was built shortly after 130 to the south of the fort to protect the wall from attack from this side, and made a detour around the fort. The vallum could only be crossed at the forts and hence at Benwell a causeway and a gate provided this access about 100 ft south of the fort’s southern gate.

Additional building or repair work in the late-2nd century was done by Legion Legio XX Valeria Victrix based at Chester.

Garrison

In the 2nd century Condercum was garrisoned by the Cohors I Vangionum Milliaria Equitata, a part-mounted unit from Upper Germany. This had a nominal strength of one thousand men, but it is likely that only half of this number occupied the fort. From 205 to 367 a five-hundred-strong auxiliary cavalry unit (Ala I Hispanorum Asturum) recruited from the Astures tribe in northern Spain, was stationed here after being at South Shields.

Description

Plan of fort and surrounding buildings

The fort measured 570 feet (170 m) from north to south by 400 feet (120 m) east to west and the defences enclosed an area of just over 5 acres (2.0 ha). As a cavalry fort built partially to the north of the wall, it had three gates on this side to allow quick access. There were two side gates, facing east and west, through which the Roman military road, running along the south side of Wall, passed. There was also a south-facing gate that led to a stone causeway crossing the vallum ditch, 20 ft wide and 10 ft deep, with mounds either side.

The causeway, still visible today, had a large monumental non-military gateway located halfway across the vallum and with some of the best dressed stone on Hadrian's Wall.

The fort contained a commandant's house, headquarters, two granaries, workshops, barracks, stables and a hospital.

Other buildings

Temple of Antenociticus

Plan of baths

A vicus, or civilian settlement, grew up around the fort, lying to the north and south of the vallum. The remains of several notable buildings were found near the fort indicating that the vicus was extensive.

The remains of a temple dedicated to Antenociticus can still be seen a hundred yards to the east of the fort. The building, which was discovered in 1862, measures 15 feet (4.6 m) from east to west and 20 feet (6.1 m) from north to south, with an apse extending a further six feet on the south end. It is believed that the apse contained a life-size statue of the god, as a full size head was found, together with the fragments of an arm and a leg. The head was adorned with a Celtic neck torc. A number of altar-stones were found, three of which were dedicated to Antenociticus, who is believed to be a Celtic deity. Another dedication to the "three lamiae" may likewise refer to local Celtic deities.

Thermal baths were discovered 300 m to the southwest of the fort. The building had several rooms, the hot, cold rooms and dressing rooms normally found in such baths.

Just south of the vallum causeway a large domestic building was found, believed to be a mansio (inn for official travellers).

Excavations

The fort was excavated in the 1920s to 1930s when a dedication table was found that suggested the origin date of 122 AD. Also, pottery was found that dated to the 2nd century indicating the time of the rebuild. Other finds from the site include altars dedicated to the gods, square-head and cruciform brooches, a strong room or treasure vault, and a silver spoon.

In 2017, excavations on a building site in Dorcas Avenue found substantial walls of the vicus.

Excavations in 2020 revealed sections of the fort and vicus foundations in several house gardens.

Sources

• J. Collingwood Bruce, Handbook to the Roman Wall (1863), Harold Hill & Son, ISBN 0-900463-32-5
• Ronald Pemberton and Frank Graham, Hadrian's Wall in the Days of the Romans (1984), Frank Graham, ISBN 0-85983-177-9
• Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1003499)". National Heritage List for England.

External links

• Media related to Condercum (Benwell) at Wikimedia Commons
• CONDERCUM FORT on the line of Hadrian's Wall as it exists today
• Benwell (Condercum) Roman Fort
• Hadrian's Wall - Condercum ~ Salve ad Condercum ( Benwell )