Milecastle 20

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox castrum

|image = (The site of) Milecastle 20 (Halton Shields) - geograph.org.uk - 1377065.jpg

|caption = Milecastle 20 is thought to lie beneath these houses in the hamlet of Halton Shields

|name = Milecastle 20

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|abandoned =

|previous_fortification =

|type = Milecastle

|province =

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|coordinates = {{coord|55.012716|-1.972057|display=inline,title}}

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|map = United Kingdom Northumberland

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|location_county = Northumberland

|location_country = England

|ref:UK:OSNG = {{gbmappingsmall|NZ01886868}}

|discovery_year =

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Milecastle 20 (Halton Shields) was one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall ({{gbmapping|NZ01886868}}). It is situated in the hamlet of Halton Shields, and was excavated in 1935. There is no visible trace of the milecastle above ground.

Description

Milecastle 20 is situated at the east end of the hamlet of Halton Shields. Its remains are located in the garden of a cottage, with the south wall and gate being covered by a house to the immediate west.[http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=20464 MILECASTLE 20], Pastscape, retrieved 2 December 2013

An antiquarian depiction of the Military Road at the entrance to Halton Shields Farm dated 1879, shows several large blocks which appear to have been the pivot stones from the milecastle gateway, together with threshold blocks.

Excavations

Milecastle 20 was excavated in 1935. It was about 17.7 metres by 16.3 metres, with a Type III gateway.

Associated turrets

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the nearest milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 20 are known as Turret 20A and Turret 20B.

=Turret 20A=

Turret 20A (Carr Hill) ({{gbmapping|NZ013687}}) is covered by the modern road, and the precise location is uncertain.[http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=20467 TURRET 20A], Pastscape, retrieved 2 December 2013 It was apparently located in 1935 by pottery finds only.

=Turret 20B=

Turret 20B (Downhill East) ({{gbmapping|NZ009686}}) is likewise covered by a modern road, and the precise location is uncertain.[http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=20470 TURRET 20B], Pastscape, retrieved 2 December 2013

Roman temporary camps

The partial remains of two possible Roman temporary camps lie about 350 metres to the south of Milecastle 20.[http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1433441 MONUMENT NO. 1433441], Pastscape, retrieved 2 December 2013 The camps are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The more complete camp is centred at {{gbmapping|NZ01886831}}. The north-western half of the enclosure is visible as a low bank with two rounded corners. A second, less clear potential camp, is to the north-east of the first camp.

Monument records

class="wikitable"

! Monument !! Monument Number !! English Heritage Archive Number

Milecastle 2020464NZ 06 NW 7
Turret 20A20467NZ 06 NW 8
Turret 20B20470NZ 06 NW 9
Roman temporary camps1433441NZ 06 NW 149

References

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