REPORT ON THE APRIL 2006 MEETING

Whitley Castle

The speaker at the April meeting of the Alston Moor Historical Society was the Society’s Archivist, Alisdair Robertson. He spoke about Whitley Castle, a subject to which he has devoted a lot of time and research. This Roman fort is only a few miles outside Alston on the road to Slaggyford but cannot be readily seen from the road unless one knows exactly where to look. This, plus the fact that it is on private land, means that many people are not even aware of its existence. The best vantage point is from the Pennine Way where the terraced fortifications can be clearly seen. A good view can also be obtained from the high ground on the opposite side of the valley.

Little work has been carried out on the site although exploratory ‘digs’ were conducted some years ago and some artefacts are on display in the Museum of Antiquities in Newcastle. Using aerial photographs Alisdair was able to point out some of the features of the fort including the gateways and various buildings. There are no buildings actually standing and it is only from the air that the outline in the ground can be interpreted. In its time it was an important staging post for the Romans on their north/south route and was heavily fortified because of its close proximity to the border of the Roman’s territory.

This is virtually a virgin site and it seems probable that there will be much of interest beneath the soil. The main site is protected and any excavation could only be undertaken with a licence. However there is much in the immediate surrounding area that is undiscovered and that is of great interest .With this in mind the Society is considering the establishment of a field study group open to members and other interested parties. Further details will be available soon.