Milecastle 48
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Milecastle 48 , one of the milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, is situated in the village of Gilsland in Cumbria immediately adjacent to the Tyne Valley Line (OS grid reference NY 634 661). It is known locally as The King's Stables but in recent years the heritage industry has begun to call it Poltross Burn Milecastle.
It measures 18.5m east to west by 21.3m north to south and two barrack buildings are visible, one either side of the main north to south road. It is built with broad gauge defensive walls, including stub 'wing walls' which join onto the Narrow Wall curtain of Hadrian's Wall on either side. It has Type III gateways. It lies 1521m west of Milecastle 47 and 1458m east of Milecastle 49.
The distinguishing feature of this milecastle is the stair base in the north-east corner, since the first few steps survive, allowing a wall walk height of 3.6m to be projected, suggesting a height for the curtain wall (including parapet) of 4.6m.
Milecastle 48 was excavated by J.P. Gibson and F.G. Simpson in 1909. (Gibson, 1911) The monument is currently in the care of English Heritage.
[edit] Nature of Hadrian's Wall in this reach
Milecastle 48 is connected to well-preserved stone-built sections of Hadrians Wall, which continue several miles to the west, at least as far as Banks.
[edit] References
- Gibson, J.P. & Simpson, F.G. 1911. Art XXIII - The Milecastle on the Wall of Hadrian at the Poltross Burn; Trans. CWAAS XI (New Series) pp390-461
[edit] External links
- Visit Cumbria A good aerial photo of Milecastle 48
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