Astbury

Marching or Temporary Camp

First recorded in the 18th century, this camp was rediscovered in 1967 a little over ½ mile (1km) west of Astbury. The camp lies a couple of miles north-east of a postulated Roman road running between the salt-working site at Salinae (Middlewich, Cheshire) and the settlement at Chesterton (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire); which lie respectively 8¾ miles west-north-west and 7¼ miles south.

Sections across the defences were taken in 1970. The single defensive ditch has a V-profile and varies between about 8 and 11 feet (2.4 – 3.4 m) wide and about 4 feet (1.2m) deep. The rampart was of clay, over 8 feet (2.4m) wide. Trial trenching across the interior of the camp revealed the post-holes and sleeper trenches of interior buildings aligned with the defences. The camp covered an area of about 60 acres (24ha).

References for Astbury

  • Britannia ii (1971) p.255

Map References for Astbury

NGRef: SJ837620 OSMap: LR118

OS National Grid Reference: SJ837620
Dimensions: ? ft (? m)
Area: 60 acres (24 ha)

Roman Roads near Astbury

None identified

Sites near Astbury