Name: Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Address: Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 7DD
Telephone: 016977 47602

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Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

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Archaeology Tours 13 June - 7 July

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Open daily 10am - 5pm

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Address

Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 7DD

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Excavations at Birdoswald Roman fort

This year, visitors to Birdoswald Roman fort will have the opportunity to see the past unfold before their eyes as we discover the 2,000 year old history hidden beneath the soil.

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Things to See and Do

What's On

Archaeology Tours of Birdoswald Roman Fort

Mon - Fri 13 June to 7 July Tours at 11am and 2pm
Members' Event: Walking the Roman Mile

Fri 8 Jul 22 11am - 2pm
The Building of Hadrian's Wall

Sat 9 - Sun 10 July 2022 10am - 5pm
Roman Falconry at Birdoswald Roman Fort

Sat 13 - Sun 14 Aug 2022 10am - 5pm
Catapulta! at Birdoswald Roman Fort

Sat 27 - Mon 29 Aug 2022 10am - 4pm
Members' Event: Aurelia’s Kitchen: Roman Cookery Workshop

Sat 17 Sep 2022 10am - 1pm
Members' Event: Aurelia’s Kitchen: Roman Cookery Workshop

Sun 18 Sep 2022 10am - 1pm
Members' Event: Roman Mosaic Workshop

Tue 27 Sep 2022 10am - 4pm
Members' Event: Birdoswald and Roman Cumbria Walk

Wed 28 Sep 2022 11am - 2pm
Members' Event: Revenants and Remains Ghost Story Reading

Sat 12 Nov 2022 2.30pm - 4pm

Birdoswald Timeline

AD 122The Turf Wall

Hadrian's Wall is begun, and is first built of turf not stone in the western sector.

125-38One of Many Forts

Birdoswald fort is built astride the Wall, on the site of one of the Wall's stone turrets.

Find out more about the history of Birdoswald Roman Fort

3rd and 4th CenturiesRomanian Residents

Birdoswald is manned by the 1,000-strong first cohort of Dacians, from what is now Romania.

3rd CenturyBeside the Fort

A civilian settlement develops and prospers around the fort.

Late 4th-5th CenturiesEnd of an Era

Troops are withdrawn from Britain as Roman rule collapses, but Birdoswald remains occupied.

16th CenturyBorder Raids

A typical border bastle house is built within the fort walls, for defence against raiding by 'reivers' or robbers.

Late 17th CenturyNew House

A new building, now part of the Birdoswald farmhouse, replaces the original bastle house.

1840sA Modern Twist

Henry Norman buys Birdoswald, adds a tower to the farmhouse and landscapes the site.

1850sEarly Excavations

The Potter brothers from Newcastle excavate the fort walls and gates.

1895-9Major Finds

Francis Haverfield and the Cumberland Excavation Committee discover the Turf Wall and the course of the Vallum earthwork around Birdoswald.

Why is Birdoswald significant?

1927-33Scientific Discoveries

Celebrated Hadrian's Wall excavator FG Simpson discovers the Vallum crossing and excavates the fort interior.

1930State Custody

Francis Eden, 6th Baron Henley, buys the Birdoswald estate and places the fort walls and gates in state care.

1987-PresentNew Management

English Heritage resumes excavations and takes over management from Cumbria County Council in 2004.

Learn more about the history of Birdoswald

Nearby Places
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Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall
0.4 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall
0.81 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall
1.16 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall
0.4 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall
0.81 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall
1.16 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Nearby Places
- Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall
  0.4 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
- Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall
  0.81 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
- Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall
  1.16 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Similar Places
- Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall
  0.4 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
- Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall
  0.81 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
- Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall
  1.16 miles from Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Gallery for Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Book your visit

Archaeology Tours 13 June - 7 July

Excavations at Birdoswald Roman fort

Things to See and Do

Longest Stretch of the Wall

The Fort

Beautiful short walks

Rest your legs

What's On

Archaeology Tours of Birdoswald Roman Fort

Members' Event: Walking the Roman Mile

The Building of Hadrian's Wall

Roman Falconry at Birdoswald Roman Fort

Catapulta! at Birdoswald Roman Fort

Members' Event: Aurelia’s Kitchen: Roman Cookery Workshop

Members' Event: Aurelia’s Kitchen: Roman Cookery Workshop

Members' Event: Roman Mosaic Workshop

Members' Event: Birdoswald and Roman Cumbria Walk

Members' Event: Revenants and Remains Ghost Story Reading

Guidebook: Birdoswald Roman Fort

Birdoswald Timeline

AD 122The Turf Wall

125-38One of Many Forts

3rd and 4th CenturiesRomanian Residents

3rd CenturyBeside the Fort

Late 4th-5th CenturiesEnd of an Era

16th CenturyBorder Raids

Late 17th CenturyNew House

1840sA Modern Twist

1850sEarly Excavations

1895-9Major Finds

1927-33Scientific Discoveries

1930State Custody

1987-PresentNew Management

Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall

Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall

Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall

Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall

Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall

Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall

Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall - Hadrian's Wall

Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall

Poltross Burn Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall

Gallery for Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

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