Benwell, Condercum Fort, possible parade ground

HER Number:
5328

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Benwell, Condercum Fort, possible parade ground

Place:
Benwell

Map Sheet:
NZ26SW

Class:
Defence

Site Type: Broad:
Military Training Site

Site Type: Specific:
Parade Ground

General Period:
Roman

Specific Period:

Form of Evidence:
Implied Evidence

Description:
The presence of a parade ground near the fort is suggested by the altar to Jupiter Optimus Maximum, found with another altar (HER 5306 and 5310) and the dedication to the Matres Campestres (HER 5308). Phillips cautions that the epithet Campester need not refer to the parade ground. The exact findspots of these items is unknown, and they may have come from the temple area to the east. However MacLauchlan's 1858 survey of Benwell shows flat ground to the west of the fort, and excavation thus far (in 1977 and 2001) has failed to locate any vicus buildings in this area. This could therefore possibly be the site of a parade ground.

Easting:
216

Northing:
647

Grid Reference:
NZ216647

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 5328 >> Tyne and Wear Museums, 1991, The Roman Fort at Benwell and its Environs, Survey of extent and preservation of archaeological deposits Tyne and Wear Museums, 2003, Pendower Hall, Benwell, Archaeological Assessment E.J. Phillips, 1977, Corpus Signororum Imperii Romani, Great Britain, Vol 1, no. 230, p81, in Corbridge's Hadrian's Wall East of the North Tyne R.G. Collingwood & R.P. Wright, 1965, Roman Inscriptions of Britain I, Inscriptions in Stone, p440, 1330, p 443, 1338, p441, 1334 J. Brand, 1789, A History of Newcastle upon Tyne, p 606 C. Bruce, 1853, Handbook to the Roman Wall, second edition, p112 P.S. Austen, 1978, Pendower School, Benwell, CEU 139 Tyne and Wear Museums, 2001, Hadrian School, Benwell, Evaluation report