Duncot Roman Fort

Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96)

The probable Fort at Duncot  is situated alongside the south bank of the River Tern about two miles to the north of Wroxeter in Shropshire, this elongated enclosure is similar in outline to the suspected fort south of Wem, which lies about 10 miles to the north-north-west, although considerably larger. Its unusually elongated layout with gateways in the centre of the shorter sides only, has long dissuaded archaeologists from declaring the site as Roman, but an evaluation trench across its defences revealed a double-ditch system of typical Roman military profile, each defensive ditch being V-shaped, about 3½ feet (c.1 m) across the lip with a drainage slot in the bottom; traces of cervi– or cippi-type obstacles were also found in the inner ditch. Sherds of 2nd-Century pottery and iron nails have been turned up in the interior proving occupation during the early-Roman period at least, and traces of internal stone-built structures may indicate continued occupation. If a military enclosure is indicated, there is sufficient room here to have housed an entire regiment of foot-soldiers, a cohors peditata quingenaria containing a nominal 500 men, probably engaged in policing the river-crossing.

References for Duncot

Shropshire Sites and Monuments Record (PRN 00045, 2002)

Map References for Duncot

NGRef: SJ577117 OSMap: LR126

OS National Grid Reference: SJ577117
Dimensions: c.246 x 803 ft (c.75 x 245 m)
Area: c.4½ acres (c.1.8 ha)

Roman Roads near Duncot

None identified

Sites near Duncot Roman Fort