Pathhead Camps

Marching or Temporary Camp

The camps at Pathhead lie along the suspected line of Dere Street. The first two camps lie one within the other, as is also the situation at Pennymuir. The third camp forms part of a series of so-called “165-acre” camps, with others at Newstead, at St. Leonards and at Channelkirk, all spaced out an almost uniform 7½ miles apart along Dere Street to the south-east.

Pathhead Camp 1

OS National Grid Reference: NT397636
Dimensions: 1,725 x 1,300 ft (526 x 396 m)
Area: 51½ acres (c.20.8 ha)
Description: Discovered on A.P.’s taken in the mid-1950’s, the complete defensive circuit of this large camp had been established on A.P.’s by 1960. The camp presumably has its south-west (or north-east?) side aligned with Dere Street.

Pathhead Camp 2

OS National Grid Reference: NT397636
Dimensions: c.910 x 620 ft (c.277 x 189 m)
Area: c.13 acres (c.5.26 ha)
Description: This small encampment lies within the southern part of the large Camp #1, incorporating two of the larger camps sides within its own defensive perimeter.

References for Pathhead Camps

  • Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1955-7 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xlviii (1958) p.88;
  • Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1958-1960 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. li (1961) p.121;
  • Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1965-1968 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. lix (1969) p.107;
  • Air Reconnaissance in Britain, 1969-72 by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. lxiii (1973) p.216;
  • Britannia xxix (1998) p.380.

Map References for Pathhead Camps

NGRef: NT3963 OSMap: LR66

Roman Roads near Pathhead Camps

None identified

Sites near Pathhead Camps