Onnum (Halton Chesters) Vicus
Vicus
The Portgate and Civil Settlement
Hadrian’s Wall is pierced by only three Roman roads, at Banna (Birdoswald) and Uxelodunum (Stanwix) on the western half of the Wall in Cumbria, and also here at Onnum. Dere Street was laid-down by governor Agricola c.80AD to serve his vigorous campaigns in Scotland, and this important highway was in constant use by the Roman military in Hadrian’s time. Whereas the Cumbrian roads both led through the centres of forts positioned on the Wall, Dere Street was here conducted via a purpose-built gateway through the Wall itself, the Portgate; situated just over ½ mile west of the Halton Chesters fort, near milecastle 22.
Tombstones from the Onnum Settlement
The vicus or civil settlement at Halton Chesters extended past the vallum for three or four hundred yards to either side of the road leading from the south gate of the fort. It is possible that this road was continued south-westwards to join up with Dere Street about a mile north of Corstopitum (Corbridge), near Chantry Farm (NY986667).
Recent Archaeological Activity at Halton Chesters
NZ 9975 6830 – Geophysical survey to the south of the B6318 minor road in 2000 revealed a bath-house and southward-leading Roman road flanked by civilian strip-buildings. These features were partially obscured by overlying Medieval ridge-and-furrow.
Sites near Onnum (Halton Chesters) Vicus
- Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Halton Chesters (Hunnum / Onnum) (0 km)
Hadrian's Wall Fort - Halton Chesters (Onnum) Bath House (0 km)
Bath House - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 21 - Down Hill (1 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 22 - Portgate (1 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle - Portgate (1 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle and Portgate - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 20 - Halton Shields (2 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 23 - Stanley (2 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 19 - Matfen Piers (4 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle - Corbridge (Coriosopitum) Roman Fort and Town (4 km)
Roman Bridges, Stanegate Fort, Supply Depot, Temple Or Shrine, Vexillation Fort and Vicus - Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 24 - Wall Fell (4 km)
Hadrian's Wall Milecastle