Hexham in Northumberland, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
North West Quadrant Barracks
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 20, 2018
1. North West Quadrant Barracks Marker
Inscription.
North West Quadrant Barracks. .
North West Quadrant barracks , excavated 2009-2011. These standard Roman Army barracks were constructed in cAD213 by the 4th cohort of Gauls and remained in use until the end of the 3rd century, after which they were demolished and replaced by later free-standing structures. Each barrack block was built to a plan of nine rooms on the ground floor, eight of which were approximately the same size for use by common soldiers, the ninth room, more than twice the size of the others was designated as a centurion's apartment. The eight equally barrack rooms each housed a 'contubernium' (the smallest sized unit in the Roman army) comprising eight Roman Soldiers who were known as contubernales (colleagues.or messmates). The barrack buildings may well have been two stories high, as suggested by the thickness of the walls which could have supported the additional weight and doubled the space available. Some of the rooms had hearths or fireplaces built into the outer walls on the ground floor adjacent to the doors, giving a degree of comfort and sophistication. Window glass was recovered in the excavation of many of the rooms, suggesting that the windows were weatherproofed. The southerly end of the road between the barracks was unusually enclosed by an archway; this arch could have either housed a gate, creating a sealed compound within the walls of the fort, or it may have had a ceremonial purpose, framing the view to the north end of the street to the door of the temple to Jupiter Dolichenus.
North West Quadrant barracks — excavated 2009-2011
These standard Roman Army barracks were constructed in cAD213 by the 4th cohort of Gauls and remained in use until the end of the 3rd century, after which they were demolished and replaced by later free-standing structures. Each barrack block was built to a plan of nine rooms on the ground floor, eight of which were approximately the same size for use by common soldiers, the ninth room, more than twice the size of the others was designated as a centurion's apartment. The eight equally barrack rooms each housed a 'contubernium' (the smallest sized unit in the Roman army) comprising eight Roman Soldiers who were known as contubernales (colleagues.or messmates). The barrack buildings may well have been two stories high, as suggested by the thickness of the walls which could have supported the additional weight and doubled the space available. Some of the rooms had hearths or fireplaces built into the outer walls on the ground floor adjacent to the doors, giving a degree of comfort and sophistication. Window glass was recovered in the excavation of many of the rooms, suggesting that the windows were weatherproofed. The southerly end of the road between the barracks was unusually enclosed by an archway; this arch could have either housed a gate, creating a sealed compound
Click or scan to see this page online
within the walls of the fort, or it may have had a ceremonial purpose, framing the view to the north end of the street to the door of the temple to Jupiter Dolichenus.
Location. 54° 59.471′ N, 2° 21.69′ W. Marker is in Hexham, England, in Northumberland. Marker can be reached from road 68, 4 kilometers north of Route A69, on the left when traveling north. Located at Vindolanda Roman fort and village archaeological site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hexham, England NE47 7JN, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Vindolanda on Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 20, 2018
2. North West Quadrant Barracks Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 20, 2018
3. North West Quadrant Barracks Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 82 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
