Broadlea Temporary Camp 1

Marching or Temporary Camp

There is a small cluster of camps at Birrens and Broadlea, close to the Roman fort at Birrens, on fairly level ground in a landscape dominated by Burnswark hill to the northwest.

The two camps at Broadlea lie close to the fort and camps at Birrens. Camp I was first recorded in the 1940s by St Joseph as cropmarks from the air. It measures 296m from WSW to ENE by at least 127m, but its north side has not been recorded from the air and may be obscured by the present-day course of the Mein Water and the railway from Carlisle to Lockerbie. At least 4.8ha (almost 12 acres) is known to be enclosed, and there is space for a camp of some 7.3ha (18 acres) here. An entrance gap is visible close to the centre of the south side, but no additional entrance protection is recorded.

References for Birrens Camps

  • Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.57/8;
  • Britannia xxviii (1997) p.410/11 & fig.8.

Map References for Birrens Camps

NGRef: NY2174 OSMap: LR85

Roman Roads near Birrens Camps

None identified

Sites near Broadlea Temporary Camp 1