Milecastle 24 Explained

Milecastle 24
Image Alt:	Milecastle 24
Location:	Northumberland, England, UK
Pushpin Map:	United Kingdom Northumberland
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in Northumberland
Pushpin Label Position:	left

Milecastle 24 (Wall Fell) was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist as a low platform, and are located to the south of the B6318 Military Road around 3km (02miles) west of its junction with the A68.

Construction

Because of the similarity in its construction to that of Milecastle 23, Milecastle 24 is assumed to be a long-axis milecastle. The gateway type is unknown, though long-axis milecastles were thought to have been constructed by the Legio VI Victrix who were based in Eboracum (York).^[1]

The milecastle measured 15.24m (50feet) across, and had broad east and west walls (the curtain wall at this point was also broad gauge).

A change in the vegetation in the ditch adjacent to the south gateway may suggest the prior existence of a causeway that was subsequently removed.

Excavations and investigations

• 1879 – The milecastle was visited and depicted by James Irwin Coates.
• 1930 – The location and construction details of the milecastle were established.
• 1966 – English Heritage Field Investigation. The position of the milecastle was confirmed. It was noted that the perimeter wall of the milecastle was extant as a 0.5m (01.6feet) high turf covered bank, obscured by quarry spoil on the north east.^[2]
• 1989 – English Heritage Field Investigation. Remains of robber/excavation trenches (up to 0.3m (01feet) deep), and a large spoil heap (up to 1.2m (03.9feet) high), were noted, but no real platform could be identified. The milecastle position and probable axis type were also confirmed.

Associated turrets

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 24 are known as Turret 24A and Turret 24B.

Turret 24A

Turret 24A (Green Field) is now located beneath the B6318 Military Road, though it was excavated in February 1930. Remains of its masonry were three courses high on the north west corner, gradually reducing to one at the other corner.^[3]

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55.0188°N -2.0711°W

Turret 24B

Turret 24B (Tithe Barn) is now located beneath the B6318 Military Road, though it was excavated in February 1930. Remains of its masonry, like those of Turret 23A, were three courses high on the north west corner, gradually reducing to one at the other corner.^[4]

Location on Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 map: 55.0191°N -2.0782°W

Monument records

Monument	Monument Number	English Heritage Archive Number
Milecastle 24	18186	NY 96 NE 11
Turret 24A	18189	NY 96 NE 12
Turret 24B	18189	NY 96 NE 12

Public access

Access to the mound marking the Milecastle is via the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail.

Notes and References

1. Book: David J Breeze and Brian Dobson . 1976 . Hadrian's Wall . Allen Lane . 0-14-027182-1 . 14–15.
2. Web site: Milecastle 24. Pastscape. English Heritage. 15 Sep 2010.
3. Web site: Turret 24A . Pastscape. English Heritage. 16 Sep 2010.
4. Web site: Turret 24B . Pastscape. English Heritage. 16 Sep 2010.