Milefortlet 12
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| Milefortlet 12 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Milecastle |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Britannia |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°51′35″N 3°23′49″W / 54.859734°N 3.396966°W |
| Town | Blitterlees |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NY10425255 |
Milefortlet 12 (Blitterlees) was a Milefortlet of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences. These milefortlets and intervening stone watchtowers extended from the western end of Hadrian's Wall, along the Cumbrian coast and were linked by a wooden palisade. They were contemporary with defensive structures on Hadrian's Wall. There is little to see on the ground but Milefortlet 12 has been located and excavated. The milefortlet is located close to the hamlet of Blitterlees, in the civil parish of Holme Low.
Milefortlet 12 is situated southwest of the village of Silloth in the same parish.[1] The site is damaged by wind erosion and quarrying, and it is covered by vegetation.[1] Substantial earthworks were identified in 1963, and the site was excavated in 1967. The excavations showed that the fort was originally of turf and timber construction.[1]
A Roman coin hoard of 20 to 30 coins of Vespasian was found 700 metres to the east (at "Greenrow School") in 1841.[2]
