Castra Exploratorum
CASTRA EXPLORATO´RUM in Britain, mentioned in the second Itinerary as being the first station between the Vallum and Rutupium, distant 12 miles from Blatum Bulgium, and 12 from Luguvallum (Carlisle). Netherby best meets these conditions.
[R.G.L]Site of an outpost fort N of Hadrian's Wall and 16 km N of Carlisle, perhaps also a port on the river Esk (NY 396716). The name castra exploratorum appears in the Antonine Itinerary; the place name is unknown. The site lies under Netherby House. A fort was built here under Hadrian (RIB 974), but nothing is known of its size or 2d c. garrison. In the 3d c. it was garrisoned by Cohors I Aelia Hispanorum (apparently assigned to Uxellodunum in the Notitia Dignitatum), and presumably also by a unit of scouts. An external bath house was discovered in 1732, but nothing is now visible. Finds take the occupation down to the mid 3d c., but lack of excavation makes it uncertain how long it lasted after that.
BIBLIOGRAPHYE. Birley, Trans. Cumberland and Westmorland Arch. and Ant. Soc. 53 (1953) 6-39; id., Research on Hadrian's Wall (1961) 229-30.
J. C. MANN