Burlington 1 Temporary Camp

Marching or Temporary Camp

There are two Roman temporary marching camps beside the Watling Street opposite Burlington Pool in Shropshire. The first of these was possibly established by Legio XIV Gemina during the winter/spring campaign of 47/48AD as they pushed west towards Wales, under the direct command of the second Roman governor of Britain Publius Ostorius Scapula. The second camp was established at some later date.

Burlington Camp 2, Shropshire

OS National Grid Reference: SJ779107
Dimensions: 426 x 656 ft (130 x 200 m)
Area: c.6½ acres (2.5 ha)
Description: This roughly rectangular camp lies entirely within the north-eastern corner of Camp-1 and re-uses part of the older camps defences to form its own north-east perimeter. There are a number of gaps in the defences but only two may be positively identified as gateways; that placed centrally in the south-western side and another in the south-east side, slightly off-set to the west. This camp does not occupy the most favourable ground within the older encampment and it seems likely that its purpose was to guard the crossing of Watling Street over the Burlington Stream.

References for Burlington Camps

  • Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1969-72 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. lxiii (1973) p.233/4 & fig.18;
  • Roman Camps in England – The Field Archaeology by the R.C.H.M.E.

Map References for Burlington Camps

NGRef: SJ7710 OSMap: LR127

Roman Roads near Burlington Camps

Watling Street/Iter II: W (4) to Uxacona (Redhill, Shropshire) Watling Street/Iter II: E (7) to Pennocrvcivm (Water Eaton, South Staffordshire)

Sites near Burlington 1 Temporary Camp