Camboglanna

Camboglanna, now called Castlesteads, was a Roman fort in north-west England. It stood on a high bluff above the Cambeck Valley, commanding views over the river’s bend. The fort guarded an important approach to Hadrian’s Wall and watched the east bank against raiders. Its name means ‘bent valley’ in Brythonic, describing the river’s curve. The site was levelled in 1791 for gardens, but traces remain beneath. It lies within the Vallum, not directly on the Wall, a unique position. The fort measured about 400 by 400 feet and faced north-west to south-east. Its north-west wall has been lost to erosion in the gorge. Excavations in 1934 uncovered walls, gates, and a corner tower, along with a single defensive ditch. Several altars found at the site have been preserved. Earlier, in 1741, a bath-house was located nearby by antiquarian Susanna Appleby. The garrison changed over time, from the Cohors IV Gallorum to the Cohors II Tungrorum. A civilian settlement, or vicus, once lay below the fort on the slope towards the River Irthing. A 2007 survey revealed stone buildings arranged along streets, including four substantial structures. Some buildings stood between the Vallum and the fort. The site is linked to the legend of Camlann, Arthur’s last battle, proposed by scholars like O. G. S. Crawford and Michael Wood. Though much is buried, the landscape still reflects its Roman past.