Jarrow, supposed Roman fort
Jarrow, supposed Roman fort
HER Number
993
District
S Tyneside
Site Name
Jarrow, supposed Roman fort
Place
Jarrow
Map Sheet
NZ36NW
Class
Defence
Site Type: Broad
Fort
Site Type: Specific
Fort
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
Form of Evidence
Implied Evidence
Description
Since early in the 19th century some local antiquarians and archaeologists have subscribed to the view that there was a Roman fort at Jarrow. Hodgson described it as "an oblong square of about 3 acres, with its corners rounded off", with "underground foundations of a wall of strong masonry" marking out "its area on every side", and including within it the church and churchyard. He thought the north wall of the house at the north-east corner of the churchyard could actually be Roman. He also reported brick pavements at the east end of Jarrow Row, and walls beneath Jarrow Hall. Although a number of Roman artifacts have been found in the vicinity (HER no. 983-992), excavations in the priory in 1935 and 1963-78, on the scarp which forms the east edge of the park in 1973, and north of Jarrow Hall in 1989-90 have not produced either Roman stratification or structures.
Easting
433900
Northing
565200
Grid Reference
NZ433900565200
Sources
<< HER 993 >> R. Surtees, 1820, History...of Durham, Vol. II, pp. 68-9
J. Hodgson, 1840, History of Northumberland, Part 2 Vol. III, pp. 230-1
J.C. Bruce, 1851, The Roman Wall, p. 323
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1937, Jarrow Monastery and the Venerable Bede Commemorations, 4, VII (for 1935-36), p. 48
R.P. Wright, DUJ, Vol. 29, p. 343
E.B. Birley, 1961, Research on Hadrian's Wall, pp. 157-9
R.J. Cramp, 1969, Excavations at the Saxon Monastic Sites of Wearmouth and Jarrow... Medieval Archaeology, Vol. XIII, pp. 21-66
S. Speak, 1990, Jarrow, Medieval Settlement Research Group, Annual Report, 5, p. 35
C.D. Morris, 1974, Jarrow Slake, Co. Durham, Council British Archaeology3 Newsbulletin, No. 6, Jan. 1974, p. 10; David J. Breeze, 2006, J. Collingwood Bruce's Handbook to the Roman Wall, 14th edition, p 130; Tyne And Wear Museums, 2010, Drewitt's Park play area, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear - Archaeological Watching Brief; Turner, A, 2011, Geophysical Surveys at Wearnouth and Jarrow 2008-2011
J. Hodgson, 1840, History of Northumberland, Part 2 Vol. III, pp. 230-1
J.C. Bruce, 1851, The Roman Wall, p. 323
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1937, Jarrow Monastery and the Venerable Bede Commemorations, 4, VII (for 1935-36), p. 48
R.P. Wright, DUJ, Vol. 29, p. 343
E.B. Birley, 1961, Research on Hadrian's Wall, pp. 157-9
R.J. Cramp, 1969, Excavations at the Saxon Monastic Sites of Wearmouth and Jarrow... Medieval Archaeology, Vol. XIII, pp. 21-66
S. Speak, 1990, Jarrow, Medieval Settlement Research Group, Annual Report, 5, p. 35
C.D. Morris, 1974, Jarrow Slake, Co. Durham, Council British Archaeology3 Newsbulletin, No. 6, Jan. 1974, p. 10; David J. Breeze, 2006, J. Collingwood Bruce's Handbook to the Roman Wall, 14th edition, p 130; Tyne And Wear Museums, 2010, Drewitt's Park play area, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear - Archaeological Watching Brief; Turner, A, 2011, Geophysical Surveys at Wearnouth and Jarrow 2008-2011