Milecastle 51

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 51 are known as Turret 51A and Turret 51B.

Turret 51A (Piper Sike) (grid reference NY58826530) is of the type normally associated with the Turf Wall, and later replaced in stone.^[3] The turret was excavated in 1927 and again in 1970.^[3] The entrance was on the east side and a substantial platform against the north wall.^[3] Cooking hearths and rubbish were found spread over the rest of the turret.^[3] Occupation is not believed to have continued later than the 2nd century AD.^[3] The turret was consolidated after 1970 and survives to a maximum height of 0.8 metres.^[3]

Turret 51B (Leahill) (grid reference NY58386511) measures 4.1 by 4.3 metres. It was excavated in 1927 and again in 1958.^[4] It replaced the earlier Turf Wall turret.^[4] The stone turret has been consolidated and survives to a maximum height of 1.1 metres.^[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Turret 51A (Piper Sike) and Turret 51B (Leahill).

• Leahill Turret and Piper Sike Turret, English Heritage