Roman forts

The military played a big part in Roman Britain. A very large force, in relation to the rest of the empire, was based here, at times accounting for almost 10% of the total strength of the army. All soldiers need a base and the Romans were no exception. Forts were constructed across the country at strategic points to control civil disorder and military threats. They also acted as important logistic supply depots and centres for administration.

The original format of a Roman fort usually took the form of a temporary base. A perimeter ditch was excavated with the material removed piled up behind the ditch to form a bank on the inside of the enclosure. This was also a standard practice for marching camps when units were located in hostile territory overnight.

These base camps were often only maintained for a short period before the military unit would move on to another location. However, if the site was suitable these basic fortifications were adapted for a longer stay. It is not uncommon to find that a base camp has been re-cut and strengthened. The introduction of deeper ditches, higher banks, timber palisade walls and considerable gateways is a phase of development evident on many forts that have been excavated.

The next phase was often to consolidate earlier timber structures and replace them with stone. This became the standard method of construction by the early second century AD. Although early forts were of different designs, as construction became more established they tended to follow a standard layout.

The shape of a Roman fort was similar to a playing card with an entrance on each side. Inside the fort there were two main streets that divided the camp. The Via Praetoria led from the front gate to the headquarters building (Principia) in the centre of the fort. The Via Principalis joined the two side gates and passed in front of the Principia. The commanding officer's house (Praetorium) was next to the headquarters building, and the rest of the fort was filled with rows of barracks, workshops and stores.

A fort could hold anything up to 800 men and often had an associated civilian settlement outside called a vicus. Roman soldiers were one of the groups in society that had a regular wage and, as is often the case throughout history, these men with money to spend often attracted a range of people providing different civilian services who settled nearby and took advantage of their requirements.

The biggest vicus settlements are associated with the biggest forts, or fortresses. A Roman fortress could hold over 5,000 legionaries and be the base for a whole army group.

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