Brocavum (Brougham) fort

The ancient name for the Brougham fort has been identified from two ancient geographical references; the Brocavo item of the Antonine Itinerary is listed 20 miles from Verteris (Brough Castle, Cumbria) and 22 miles from Luguvalium (Carlisle) Fort (Carlisle, Cumbria) at the terminus of Iter V, also the Brocara of the Ravenna Cosmology (R&C#156), which occurs between the entries for Fanvm Cocidi (Bewcastle, Cumbria) and the inidentified station Croucingo.

The Brocavum Fort

The fort is sited in a field adjacent to Brougham Castle Farm, just off the A66 trunk road about two miles south of Penrith. There is a small marching camp on the opposite side of the A66 about 400 yards north-east of the fort, sited on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Rivers Eamont and Lowther. Another temporary camp is situated about three miles to the north-east on Langwathby Moor.

The Garrison Units

Cohors Gallorum?

The Eighth Legion were present during the initial invasion of Britain in 43AD, very likely acting as escort to the Emperor Claudius, who is documented to have stayed for only sixteen days on the island before leaving for the continent. Vexillations of this legion are known to have been stationed in the province during the early part of the second century and possibly also during the Carausian revolt at the end of the third century, though the context of the inscription means that the legion need not have been in Britain at the time the stone was commissioned.

Numerus Equitum Stratonicianorum?

Other Inscribed Stones

Probable Fortlet at Lightwater Bridge

Sited upon an old river scarp on the south bank of the Eamont only 1,300 feet (c.395m) from the Brocavum fort but better situated to observe long stretches of the river, a rectangular ditched enclosure with rounded corner-angles measuring 200 feet by at least 120 feet (c.60 x 36+ m) and covering an area of about ½ acre (c.0.22 ha) has been identified as a Roman fortlet (St. Joseph, 1961).

If this small site east-north-east of the main fort indeed proves to be a fortlet, it is very unlikely that the two were occupied at the same time, and although it is probable, due to its superior position, that the fortlet post-dates the fort, this supposition cannot be proved without further investigation.

Other Roman Finds in the Area

References for Brocavvm

Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995); The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965); Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.52-65; Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995); The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965); Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.52-65; Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995); The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965); Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.52-65; Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995); The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965); Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.52-65;

Roman Roads near Brocavvm

SW (20) to Ambleside (Ambleside, Cumbria) E (7) to Bravoniacvm (Kirkby Thore, Cumbria) Itinera II et V: NNW (7) to Voreda (Old Penrith, Cumbria) S (18) to Low Borrowbridge (Cumbria) NNW (4.5) to Plvmpton Head N (5) to Salkeld Gate N (4) to Stonybeck