South Shields Fort parade ground, Roman altar

In 1959 John Thornborrow excavated at the corner of Beacon Street and Lawe Road roundabout. The various finds, which appear to indicate the existence of a parade ground east of the fort, included an altar. In coarse-grained yellow sandstone, 3 feet 3 inches high x 1 foot 5 inches wide x 1 foot 3 inches deep. On the left side is a patera, on the right a jug. The first 5 lines of the text have been chiselled off. Lines 6 and 7 read: CASSIVS VIR/VS VSLM Cassius Virus v(otum) s(oluit) l(ibens) m(erito); Cassius Virus willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.