The Fort and its Design

The Fort and its Design. . , The Fort and its Design , Roman soldiers began to build Housesteads around AD 124 to a design used for forts across the Roman Empire. This fort is one of the best surviving examples, anywhere. , Housesteads follows a text-book template, adapted to local conditions. The plan is rectangular, with a stone wall up to 5m high originally backed by an earth rampart. Four gates led onto streets that divided the fort into three areas. The central area contained administrative buildings - the headquarters, the granaries and a hospital - as well as the commanding officer's house. On each side of the central area were barracks, where up to 800 soldiers lived, and also workshops and support buildings. , Housesteads was occupied until the end of the Roman period in Britain, shortly after AD 400, during which time many changes were made to the buildings and their uses. , The south gate , (porta principalis dextra) , Originally, all four gates were identical, with twin arched passages flanked by towers. Their construction was monumental, to impress and reflect the glory of the army and the Empire. Niches over the gateways often contained statues of gods associated with the army – Mars and Victory – or an inscribed stone tablet recording the emperor and important officials who had built or restored the gate. ( photo captions ) , Far right: Housesteads fort as it may have looked around AD 200. Reconstruction by Peter Urmston , Right: Several decorated window heads have been found at Housesteads, including this incomplete example. These may have adorned the gateways. , Left: The south gate as it may have appeared when first built shortly after AD 124.