Chew Green

Chew Green stands in the rolling hills of Northumberland, 13 kilometres north of Rochester and 14 kilometres west of Alwinton. It marks the remains of a Roman military encampment once wrongly labelled Ad Fines on an old Ordnance Survey map. The site lies beside Dere Street, a Roman road that once ran south to York. It sits almost on the modern border with Scotland, a quiet stretch of land today. Beneath the grass lie the traces of a fort, two smaller forts, two camps and a stretch of the ancient road. Medieval traces appear as well, including a small chapel reported in an 1880s dig. The camp’s largest square enclosure covers about seven hectares, surrounded by a rampart and ditch. Excavations show it housed soldiers year-round rather than seasonal troops. Artefacts inside suggest it functioned as a permanent base, not a civilian settlement. The site likely served as a staging point for campaigns further north. Nearby Dere Street linked forts and towns across northern Britain. The remains lie within the Northumberland National Park and the Otterburn Military Training Area. Visitors walk over grassy mounds that outline the fort’s walls and ditches. The largest square camp dominates the view, its ramparts still rising slightly above the ground. Dere Street’s line can be traced as a low earthwork cutting across the landscape. The surrounding hills offer wide views across heather moorland. The site is quiet, with only the wind and occasional walkers breaking the silence. The military training area restricts access at times, so visitors should check ahead. The remains speak of Rome’s northern frontier and the soldiers who once held this ground.