Bewcastle Roman Fort

Bewcastle Roman Fort stands on a small plateau north of Hadrian’s Wall in the village of Bewcastle, Cumbria. Built as an outpost for scouting and intelligence, it was unusual for its irregular hexagonal shape rather than the usual oblong. The fort occupied nearly six acres and was connected to Banna by the Roman road known as the Maiden Way. Two stone signalling towers once stood between the forts at Barron’s Pike and Robin Hood’s Butts to relay messages. The fort was named Fanum Cocidi, meaning ‘The Shrine of Cocidius,’ after the deity worshipped in northern Britain. Six of the nine altars found on the site were dedicated to this god, confirming its identity. Built around 124 AD by the First Cohort of Dacians, the fort originally had turf defences and timber buildings, later rebuilt in stone. Detachments from three legions—the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth—helped construct it. Today, the embankments and ditches of the fort remain visible. St Cuthbert’s Church occupies the southern part of the site, and its churchyard holds the famous Bewcastle Cross. To the north-east, the ruins of Bewcastle Castle, built in the 11th century from Roman stones, stand nearby. The fort’s history reflects its strategic importance and the shifting tides of Roman Britain.