Turret (Hadrian's Wall)

[1] Although Hadrian's Wall itself ended (at its western terminus) just beyond the fort of Maia at the modern village of Bowness-on-Solway on the Cumbrian coast,[3] the system of milecastles and turrets continued beyond this point, along the west coast as far as Flimby, with comparable spacing.

These were in no fixed position, and in some cases had been moved to different locations over time (e.g. Turret 10A),[8] usually corresponding with a renewal of the floor.

[16] There is no evident purpose for this structure, though the presence of four or five steps in some cases (where they have survived) suggests a possible platform for a ladder to access an upper floor.

Both the Rudge Cup and the Amiens Skillet exhibit a design indicative of Hadrian's Wall.

Incorporated within the design are features thought to represent turrets, and these are shown with a crenellated area around the top.

This design would require a viewing platform probably of flagstones, but these would lead to inherent difficulties in keeping the turret's interior dry, especially in the wetter climate of the time.

Physical evidence supporting this design comes in the form of both roof tiles fragments in a few turrets, and slates in some others.

Also suggesting the presence of windows are accumulations of occupation debris (e.g. pottery) just outside the centre of the east wall of Turret 7B.

During this period of abandonment, many turrets were robbed of building stone, possibly by the remaining Roman garrisons.

On withdrawal from the Antonine Wall (around 162 AD), all turrets appear to have been extensively rebuilt (where robbing had taken place) and reoccupied.

It was at this time that the Turf Wall was rebuilt in stone, and so new turrets were built on the realigned stretch west of Birdoswald.

During this process, the turret recess was filled in, presumably to remove a possible point of structural weakness.

[18] There is no direct evidence of how the turrets were used, or what purpose they were intended to serve; however, it can be presumed that they were to provide regular observation posts.

Given the presumed requirement to provide a reliable 24-hour watch, limited by the size of the structure, it is supposed that there may have been four to six soldiers stationed at a turret at any one time.

It, and the attached wall, are maintained as a single property by English Heritage (known as "Denton Hall Turret").

It forms part of a 69 metres (226 ft) extant section of Hadrian's Wall.

They are located immediately to the east of the northwest corner of the fort's principia (headquarters block).

[22] Turret 29B (Limestone Bank) remains as a low earthwork, turf covered with little (if any) visible masonry.

[17] Turret 33B (Coesike) has been exposed, and consolidated to a maximum height of 1.1 metres (3.6 ft), and extensive archeological work has been carried out on it.

It shows clear evidence of the phases of occupation, including abandonment in favour of the Antonine Wall, demolition in the late second century, when the recess was filled.

A reconstructed Hadrian's Wall stone wall turret at Vindolanda , just to the south of the actual Hadrian's Wall
Typical layout of stone wall turret
Plan of typical Turf Wall turret
Photograph showing the plinth course on the outer north wall of Turret 52A (Banks East).
An image from near the base of Trajan's Column in Rome , showing signal towers surrounded by sharpened stakes, and displaying flaming beacons.
A reconstructed Roman Watchtower near the village of Grüningen in Germany. This is one possible design for Hadrian's Wall turrets, though clay tiles are less likely than slates or wooden shingles .
The remains of Turret 7B (Denton Hall)
Remains of Brunton Turret
The remains of Turret 26B ( Brunton Turret )
The remains of Turret 33B (Coesike)