Birdoswald is seven miles north
east of Brampton. It is an interesting example of a Roman fort, with good
stretches of the wall still in existence and a milecastle nearby. The gates and
granaries have been excavated for visitors to view, including the re-erection
of Dark Age posts to show how the buildings were later re-used after the
departure of the legions. There is also a good little museum in part of the old
farm and displays explaining the history of the site.
Roman Army Museum
The Roman Army Museum is three miles north west of Haltwhistle. It is housed in the 18th century farmhouse
and associated buildings at Carvoran, a small settlement adjacent to the still
buried Roman fort of Magna. It is more a museum of living reconstructions
than excavated artifacts, there are excellent tableaux showing Roman arms and
armor in great detail, along with explanatory videos and a model of the nearby fort.
One can learn a great deal of every aspect of Roman military life in Northern Britain, including the different sub-divisions of a legion, the military ranks,
soldiers' duties, their armor and weapons.
Vindolanda
Vindolanda is one mile north of
Bardon Mill. It was a Roman fort world famous for the discovery of thousands of
Roman writing tablets containing all sorts of correspondence, both official and
private. Included are supply inventories, military orders, and financial
accounts. Most famous was the private dinner invitation of Claudia Severa. There
is a display of photographs of these amazing finds in the site museum. Other
artifacts include an extraordinary collection of Roman leather goods, mostly
shoes and sandels, a cavalry horse-mask, colorfully painted Roman glass, a
leopard adorned map-pointer and a military standard. Outside are full-scale
reconstructions of a Roman temple and houses where actors depicting the
inhabitants tell their story in person. There are also two rebuilt sections of
the wall and turrets, both in wood and stone. The foundations of the excavated
fort itself and, unusually, the extra-mural civilian settlement is nicely
displayed and well explained. There is a fine set of Roman baths. The garrison commander's
house includes an early Christian church.