Rainsbury Roman Fort
Possible Roman Fort
This small earthwork lies on a valley spur overlooking the River Haddeo in Somerset and has earthwork remains of the tell-tale ‘playing card’ shape which exemplifies a small Roman fort. Its measurments within the ramparts is about 70 metres across by about 105 metres long (c.230 by 345 feet) with rounded corners, enclosing an area just under 0.75 hectares (just over 1¾ acres); the camp is aligned towards the south-south-west. The small size indicates that the fort did not house a full regiment of auxiliary troops, there being only room enough for about three (possibly four) centuries of foot soldiers comprising 80 men each.
References for Rainsbury Roman Fort
- The Field Archaeology of Exmoor by Hazel Riley and Robert Wilson-North (English Heritage, 2001 pp.77-79); Map References for Rainsbury Roman Fort
NGRef: SS9929 OSMap: LR181
OS National Grid Reference: SS 9902 2918
Dimensions: c.230 x 345 ft (c.70 x 105 m)
Area: c.1¾ acres (c.0.75 ha)
Roman Roads near Rainsbury Roman Fort
None identified
Sites near Rainsbury Roman Fort
- Wiveliscombe (10 km)
Auxiliary Fort - Tiverton Roman Fort (15 km)
Neronian Auxiliary Fort (AD 54–68) - Norton Fitzwarren Temporary Camp (19 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Norton Camp (21 km)
Iron Age Hillfort - Cullompton Forts (22 km)
Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) - Old Burrow Roman Fortlet (29 km)
Fortlet - Hembury Roman Fort (29 km)
Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54), Iron Age Hillfort and Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure - Countisbury Hill Fort (32 km)
Iron Age Promontory Hillfort - Honiton (33 km)
Possible Settlement - Bury Barton Roman Fort (34 km)
Neronian Auxiliary Fort (AD 54–68)