Derventio (Papcastle)

For other sites called Derventio, see Derventio.

Derventio was a roman settlement at Papcastle on the river Derwent near Cockermouth.

It was the site of a Roman fort, which was originally built in timber and rebuilt in stone.[1] There was also a civilian settlement (vicus). There have been a number of excavations since the beginning of the twentieth century. The remains of the forts and part of the vicus have been designated an ancient monument.[2] In the 12th century the Normans removed Roman stonework from the site and used it to build Cockermouth Castle.[3]

Recent excavations

An excavation of sites in the vicus, between the fort and the river Derwent, was featured in an episode of the television programme Time Team (Series 6, episode 2) broadcast in 1999.[4] Further archaeological digs were undertaken in 2011 and September 2012 which indicate that the Roman settlement was far greater than previously thought. As at September 2012 the digs are continuing but it appears that the site has national significance. A large mill with monumental masonry and the Roman wooden mill race have been discovered, as well an extensive bath house complex. It also appears that there are at least two phases of use within the development, though conclusions are yet to be finalised.

References

  1. ↑ The name is known from the Ravenna Cosmography. See Esmonde Cleary, A., DARMC, R. Talbert, S. Gillies, S. Vanderbilt, R. Warner, J. Becker, T. Elliott. "Places: 89165 (Derventio)". Pleiades (pleiades.stoa.org). Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ Designated in the 1960s, the scheduling was amended in the 1990s.
  3. ↑ "Cockermouth Castle". Heritage Open Days. September 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Papcastle
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