Broomholm Knowe
Two successive Roman forts placed at the junction of the river Esk and the Tarras Water (NY 379815) and effectively sealing Eskdale. It appears that Fort 1 was built during the Flavian occupation of Scotland (probably Flavian II, A.D. ca. 87-ca.100) and Fort 2 in the early 2d c. (Trajan or early Hadrian).
Only limited surface indications remain: the SW angle and ditches farthest N (disfigured by a later pond and accompanying drove-road banks), and the causeway of a Roman road running N from the fort's SW angle for almost 1 km. The site was discovered by aerial photography and verified by excavations in 1956 and 1961-65. It consists of two superimposed turf and timber forts with their annexes. Fort 1 measured 297 by 229.5 m (over the ramparts) with a somewhat wider annex (207 x 315 m) attached to its S side. It was destroyed, possibly by enemy action, to be replaced by a larger fort (495 x 292.5 m) with the same annex. At some date the annex ramparts were widened. Fort 2 was systematically dismantled and its gate timbers removed, probably after only a short occupation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY“Roman Britain,” JRS 41 (1951) 122I; 47 (1957) 201I; 52 (1962) 164I; 53 (1963) 128; all superseded by 55 (1965) 202.
C. M. DANIELS