Whitley Castle, Northumberland: An Analytical Survey of the Fort and its Setting

Analytical earthwork and geophysical surveys have advanced our understanding of the lozenge-shaped Roman fort at Whitley Castle (Northumberland), which is notable for the exceptional depth of its outer defences. Built at a higher altitude than any other fort in England, it was almost certainly positioned to control the production and shipment of lead and silver from the Alston ore-fields. Its curious shape, tailored to that of the natural knoll, necessitated some adjustment of a standard fort plan, but accommodated six buildings to the rear of the central range and four to the front. An extramural settlement and terraced fields have been recorded to the west and north, and a swathe of ground to the south may have provided space for a parade ground. Post-Roman activity is evident from the cultivation and settlement remains that override the defences; two bastle-like buildings and an eighteenth-century farmhouse once stood within the fort itself.