Knag Burn Gateway

The Knag Burn Gateway is a gateway which was built into Hadrian's Wall some time after construction of the wall itself, generally acknowledged to be during the fourth century.[1]

Knag Burn Gateway
Northumberland, England, UK
Remains of the Knag Burn Gateway taken from South of the wall facing West towards Housesteads (visible at the top of the hill)
The remains of the gateway
Knag Burn Gateway
Location in Northumberland
Coordinates55.01466°N 2.32865°W / 55.01466; -2.32865
Grid referenceNY79086894

Location

Knag Burn Gateway is located at the point where Hadrian's Wall crosses the Knag Burn, just to the East of Housesteads, between the fort and Turret 36B. The burn itself passes beneath the wall via a culvert a few metres to the West of the gateway.

Description

Knag Burn Gateway is one of the few gates through the wall that isn't part of a milecastle or fort.[1] The remains indicate that the structure consisted of a single-lane gateway, with guard-chambers on either side and a gate at each end, thus allowing two-stage controlled passage through the wall.[2] Professor I A Richmond suggested that the gateway was constructed to allow trade traffic through the wall some time in or after the fourth century.[3]

The gateway was discovered in 1855 and excavated in 1936 and 1988. The structure consists of the 3.7 metres (12 ft) wide gateway with two small structures either side.[4]

The two cell structures at either side of the gateway measure 4.65 metres (15.3 ft) by 3.25 metres (10.7 ft), with entrances 0.95 metres (3 ft 1 in) wide (on the side nearest the gateway), which open onto a passage.[4]

Monument record
MonumentMonument NumberEnglish Heritage Archive NumberScheduled Monument Notification
Knag Burn Gateway1007856NY 76 NE 9514-July-1997
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References
  1. Breeze, David J (1934), Handbook to the Roman Wall (14th Revised edition - Nov 2006), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, ISBN 0-901082-65-1
  2. David J Breeze and Brian Dobson (1976). Hadrian's Wall. Allen Lane. ISBN 0-14-027182-1.
  3. Toynbee, J. M. C. (June 1960). "Review: The Impact of Roman on Native in North Britain". The Classical Review. Cambridge University Press. 10 (2): 164–166. doi:10.1017/s0009840x0017074x.
  4. "Knag Burn Gateway". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
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