Roman Cumbria

This morning we visit the picturesque Brougham Castle, situated beside the River Eamont a few miles east of Penrith. Brougham dates to the early 13th century but the site was used much earlier by the Romans. The Roman fort of Brocavum was stood on an escarpment above the present castle, and its stones were appropriated for use in the medieval castle structure. After lunch we visit the Roman Fort of Epiacum which controlled access along the Maiden Way, a vital strategic link connecting the frontier with the wider Roam world and possibly used to control local mining of lead and silver. Epiacum is unusual as its construction did not follow the usual ‘playing card’ configuration but was distorted into a rhomboid shape to suit the terrain upon which it was built.

We drive north today to see the remarkable Roman quarry at Gelt Woods set in a deep, red sandstone ravine close to the river. Chiselled out by Roman engineers nearly 2,000 years ago, you can see the marks and chips left by the quarrymen all along the cliff face. It is here that archaeologists have been working with climbing specialists to try to preserve the rare Roman graffiti inscribed high on the cliff wall. From here we continue further north to the remote hamlet of Bewcastle where we examine the famous, intricately carved 7th or early 8th-century ross which resides in the churchyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church. This is a real gem of Britain’s pre- Norman heritage. All four sides of the shaft are beautifully carved in relief with human figures, animals, knotwork, interlacing, scrolls and runic inscriptions. 

Travelling south today we visit Hardknott Fort one of the most remote and isolated posts in Roman Britain. Its setting and surrounding scenery is spectacular with sweeping views over the Eskdale Valley. At one time, Hardknott Fort (Mediobogdum) supported the fourth Cohort of Dalmatians, infantry soldiers from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Living at 815ft above sea level, they guarded the Roman road between Ambleside and Ravenglass from invasion by the Scots and Brigantes. After lunch we visit Ravenglass Fort (Glannaventa) and its remarkable bath house, one of the largest surviving structures of its kind in England.

On our final day we visit Ambleside Roman Fort (Galava) situated on the northern shores of Lake Windermere. Of particular interest here is the large size of the storage granaries which suggests that they were used to supply troops throughout the region especially as the fort’s waterside position would make the loading of cargo a relatively straightforward process. Today you can clearly see the foundations of the headquarters building, commandant's house, granaries, gates and defences, all exposed by excavations in 1914-20. After a final lunch in the pretty town of Ambleside, we say our farewells, returning to Penrith for our independent onward journeys home.