Chesters Roman Fort

Chesters Roman Fort is a historic building in Northumberland, cared for by English Heritage. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Chesters Roman Fort

Chesters Roman Fort stands on Hadrian's Wall near Humshaugh in Northumberland, built around AD 124 to house a cavalry regiment of some 500 men.

The site includes some of the best-preserved Roman military bath house remains in Britain, with walls still standing to shoulder height in places.

English Heritage manages the fort and its museum today.

Visitors can walk through the excavated headquarters building, barrack blocks, and the riverside bath house down by the North Tyne.

History of Chesters Roman Fort

Known to the Romans as Cilurnum, the fort guarded a bridge carrying Hadrian's Wall across the North Tyne and was garrisoned by cavalry units including the Ala II Asturum. The antiquarian John Clayton inherited the Chesters estate in 1832 and began extensive excavations around 1840, assembling the collection now displayed in the on-site museum built in 1896 to house his finds.

Architecture of Chesters Roman Fort

The visible remains include the fort's headquarters building, barrack blocks, and a separate bath house by the river, with stonework surviving to unusual height for a Roman military site in Britain. A country house stands nearby and was built partly using stone robbed from the fort.

Worth knowing

John Clayton, the Newcastle town clerk and antiquarian who inherited Chesters in 1832, went on to acquire several other forts along Hadrian's Wall, making him one of the most significant figures in the Wall's early preservation.

Facilities

Parking Café Toilets Cycle parking Baby changing

Plan your visit to Chesters Roman Fort

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Nearest station: Hexham Rail Station (4 miles)

Places to visit near Chesters Roman Fort

Chesters Roman Fort and Clayton Museum

museum 0.2 miles

View Chesters Roman Fort and Clayton Museum on heritage map

Planetrees

archaeological site 1.1 miles

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Milecastle 26

historic building 1.2 miles

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Milecastle 29

historic building 1.6 miles

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Carrawburgh

archaeological site 3.3 miles

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Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Chesters Roman Fort there are 5 historic properties, including 2 historic buildings and 2 archaeological sites.

5 English Heritage

2 Historic building

2 Archaeological site

1 Museum

See these 5 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Chesters Roman Fort there are 10 historic properties, including 4 historic buildings, 3 archaeological sites and 2 museums.

10 English Heritage

4 Historic building

3 Archaeological site

2 Museum

1 Castle

See these 10 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Chesters Roman Fort there are 28 historic properties, including 16 historic buildings, 4 archaeological sites and 3 castles, across English Heritage, National Trust and Churches Conservation Trust sites.

21 English Heritage

4 National Trust

2 Churches Conservation Trust

1 Historic Houses

16 Historic building

4 Archaeological site

3 Castle

2 Church