- Source: Milecastle 24
24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle 24 (Wall Fell) was a 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform, and are located to the south of the B6318 Military Road around 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of its junction with the A68.
Construction
Because of the similarity in its construction to that of 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle 23, 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle 24 is assumed to be a long-axis 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle. The gateway type is unknown, though long-axis milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the Legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York).
The 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle measured 15.24 metres (50.0 ft) across, and had broad east and west walls (the curtain wall at this point was also broad gauge).
A change in the vegetation in the ditch adjacent to the south gateway may suggest the prior existence of a causeway that was subsequently removed.
Excavations and investigations
1879 – The 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle was visited and depicted by James Irwin Coates.
1930 – The location and construction details of the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle were established.
1966 – English Heritage Field Investigation. The position of the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle was confirmed. It was noted that the perimeter wall of the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle was extant as a 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) high turf covered bank, obscured by quarry spoil on the north east.
1989 – English Heritage Field Investigation. Remains of robber/excavation trenches (up to 0.3 metres (0.98 ft) deep), and a large spoil heap (up to 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high), were noted, but no real platform could be identified. The 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle position and probable axis type were also confirmed.
Associated turrets
Each 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle 24 are known as Turret 24A and Turret 24B.
= Turret 24A
=Turret 24A (Green Field) is now located beneath the B6318 Military Road, though it was excavated in February 1930. Remains of its masonry were three courses high on the north west corner, gradually reducing to one at the other corner.
Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55.018791°N 2.071083°W / 55.018791; -2.071083 (Turret 24A)
= Turret 24B
=Turret 24B (Tithe Barn) is now located beneath the B6318 Military Road, though it was excavated in February 1930. Remains of its masonry, like those of Turret 23A, were three courses high on the north west corner, gradually reducing to one at the other corner.
Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55.019083°N 2.078152°W / 55.019083; -2.078152 (Turret 24B)
Monument records
Public access
Access to the mound marking the 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle is via the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail.
References
Bibliography
Daniels, Charles (1979), "Review: Fact and Theory on Hadrian's Wall", Britannia, 10: 357–364, JSTOR 526069
External links
Media related to 24.3/info/milecastle" target="_blank">Milecastle 24 at Wikimedia Commons