Milefortlet 4
{{Short description|Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox castrum
|name = Milefortlet 4
|image = Fields by the Solway Firth - geograph.org.uk - 3590916.jpg
|caption = Fields by the Solway Firth, and the approximate site of Milefortlet 4
|alt_names =
|built_during_reign_of =
|founded =
|abandoned =
|previous_fortification =
|type = Milecastle
|province = Britannia
|limes =
|coordinates = {{coord|54.926352|-3.289258|display=inline,title}}
|altitude_m =
|altitude_ref =
|map = United Kingdom Cumbria
|map_alt =
|place_name =
|location_town =
|location_county = Cumbria
|location_country = England
|ref:UK:OSNG = {{gbmappingsmall|NY17475983}}
|discovery_year =
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}}
Milefortlet 4 (Herd Hill) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 4 has been located by archaeologists.
Description
Milefortlet 4 is situated at the seaward edge of a low ridge, just north of the hamlet of Cardurnock in the civil parish of Bowness. It was located in 1945 by the finding of turfwork on Herd Hill.{{Cite PastScape |num=9613 |desc=Milefortlet 4 |access-date=26 November 2013 |mode=cs2}} There is nothing to see from the ground but a geophysical survey of the site was undertaken in 1994 and the precise position of the milefortlet was located.
Associated Towers
Each milefortlet had two associated towers, similar in construction to the turrets built along Hadrian's Wall. These towers were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milefortlet, and would probably have been manned by part of the nearest Milefortlet's garrison. The towers associated with Milefortlet 4 are known as Tower 4A ({{gbmapping|NY172594}}) and Tower 4B ({{gbmapping|NY17115888}}).{{Cite PastScape |num=9617 |desc=Tower 4A |access-date=26 November 2013 |mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}{{Cite PastScape |num=9610 |desc=Cardurnock Tower 4B |access-date=26 November 2013 |mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}
The position of Tower 4A is uncertain, although it thought to lie on the crest of a ridge with good views seaward. Tower 4B is located in a field west of Cardurnock. It was excavated by in 1977, which located three sides of the tower surviving as robber trenches: the western side having been completely eroded. The tower was interpreted as having had three phases: in the first two phases palisade structures were built, but in the third phase these were abandoned and a stone tower was built.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NHLE|num=1014917|desc=Herd Hill (milefortlet 4)}}
- {{NHLE|num=1016074|desc=Cardurnock (tower 4b)}}
{{Milecastles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Milefortlet 04}}