Pike Hill Signal Tower on Hadrian's Wall, nr Banks, Cumbria
This is the site of a Roman signal tower on Hadrian's Wall. Much of the tower has been destroyed by a modern road. It was excavated in 1931. This showed that it was about 20 feet square in plan with exceptionally deep foundations that suggest that it was once very tall. Hadrian's Wall was built by the Romans between AD122 -128. It stretched 117km across Northern England from the river Tyne to the Solway Firth. At every ‘Roman mile’ (approx 1.5 km) along the wall a mile castle was built. These were small forts for up to 50 men. Between each of these were two turrets. There were also at least 16 major forts such as Wallsend, Housesteads and Vindolanda on or near the wall. Around 2,000 soldiers were needed to patrol the wall. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2010). Read detailed archaeological description.
