Bootham Stray Marching Camp 2

Marching or Temporary Camp

Although 18th century historians reported up to eight camps in the area to the immediate north of York, only two Roman marching camps have been recorded from the air in recent times, at Bootham Stray, a little over 1½ miles (2.5km) due north of the Roman legionary fortress. Severely damaged by ploughing, crossed by hedges and drainage ditches, these camps lie on agricultural land to the immediate west of the Bur Dike between the B1363 minor road and the eastern outskirts of the Rawcliffe suburb of York.

Bootham Stray 2, North Yorkshire

This camp lies less than 500 feet (150 metres) outside the western defences of camp-1 but is not visible from the ground, having been identified from aerial photographs. Only the south-eastern side is complete, with a centrally-placed internal clavicula gateway and measuring around 350 feet (107 metres) from north-east to south-west. Considerable lengths of the north-eastern and south-western sides, complete with similar gateways, have also been identified from the air, but of the north-western side nothing positive has been recorded. Enough remains however, to suggest that the camp faced north-east and had a probable north-west to south-east dimension of around 265 feet (81 metres) and thus enclosed an area just over 2 acres (0.9 hectares).

References for Bootham Stray Camps

  • Roman Camps in England – The Field Archaeology by the R.C.H.M.E.
OS National Grid Reference: SE596548
Dimensions: 265 x 350 ft (81 x 107 m)
Area: c.2 acres (0.9 ha)

Roman Roads near Bootham Stray Camps

None identified

Sites near Bootham Stray Marching Camp 2