Chesters Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Chesters Fort was built to guard the Roman bridge which carried Hadrian's Wall and the military road over the River North Tyne. It was one of a series of permanent troop bases added during the construction of the Wall.
Occupied for nearly three centuries, its six-acre area housed a cavalry regiment of around 500 men: in the 3rd century its garrison was a unit from Asturias in northern Spain.

There is much to see on the ground: all four principal gateways are well preserved, with short lengths of Wall adjoining them. The entire foundations of the headquarters building are visible, with a courtyard, hall, regimental temple and strongroom clearly laid out. The commandant's house is the most luxurious building in the fort.

Down by the river, the changing rooms, steam rooms and bathing areas of the garrison's bath house are extremely well preserved, as is the Roman bridge abutment on the opposite bank of the river.

The on-site museum, housed in a fine Victorian building, displays a collection of Roman finds retrieved by the local antiquarian John Clayton, including important early archaeological discoveries relating to the central section of the Wall.