The Forts on Hadrian S Wall: a Comparative Analysis of the Form and Construction of Some Buildings
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Durham E-Theses The forts on Hadrian s wall: a comparative analysis of the form and construction of some buildings Taylor, David J.A. How to cite: Taylor, David J.A. (1999) The forts on Hadrian s wall: a comparative analysis of the form and construction of some buildings, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4555/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 The forts on Hadrian's Wall: a comparative analysis of the form and construction of some buildings in three volumes David J. A. Taylor 19 JUL Volume 1 The copyright of this thesis rests witli tlie author. No quotation from it should be published widiout the written consent of the author and information derived from it should be acknowledged. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Archaeology, University of Durham, 1999 I confirm that no part of the material offered has previously been submitted by me for a degree in this or in any other University. If material has been generated through joint work, my independent contribution has been clearly indicated. In all other cases material from the work of others has been acknowledged and quotations and paraphrases suitably indicated. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his written consent, and information derived from it should be acknowledged. Abstract The thesis undertakes a comparative analysis of some of the stone buildings within the forts of the completed concept of Hadrian's Wall. The buildings included are the principia, granaries, gates and barracks. Each building type has been measured and inspected on site, or the data obtained from archival or documentary sources. As a background to the study the forts are set in the context of the Wall, examining its structure, garrisons and taking an overview of the archaeological record, additionally general Roman building techniques are reviewed . The selected buildings within each fort are then discussed and compared with other buildings on the Wall, or on other military sites. In this way their form, dimensional analysis, construction sequence and building techniques are considered and discussed. Common features and major differences are highlighted in the forts and the buildings, and comparisons drawn. Some tentative Unks are made as to the builders of the forts and the probable use of standard units of measure. Reconstructions of the buildings are put forward, taking into account the archaeological evidence and architectural considerations. Supporting information supplied in the appendices includes data relating to each fort as well as schedules of dimensions of the buildings, together with comparative tables. A catalogue of the decorated and moulded stonework sets out and discusses the stonework from the various buildings. m CONTENTS Volume 1 Abstract iii Contents iv Preface xix 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Objectives 1 1.2 Previous Research 2 1.3 An Overview of the Wall and its Garrisons 13 1.4 The Sites 24 1.5 The recording of Dimensional Data 33 1.6 Summary 36 Notes 38 2.0 The Techniques of Roman Building Construction 41 2.1 Masonry 42 2.2 Mortar and Render 51 2.3 Carpentry 57 2.4 Roof Coverings 66 2.5 Structural Integrity 75 2.6 Summary 83 Notes 84 IV 3.0 The Buildings 87 3.1 Design and Form 87 3.1.1 ThePrincipia 87 3.1.2 TheForehall 94 3.1.3 The Basilica Building at Birdoswald 98 3.1.4 The Granaries 98 3.1.5 The Gates 105 3.1.6 The Barracks 108 Notes 115 3.2 Dimensional Analysis 116 3.2.1 The Forts 116 3.2.2 ThtPrincipia 117 3.2.3 TheForehall 125 3.2.4 The Basilica Building at Birdoswald 126 3.2.5 The Granaries 126 3.2.6 The Gates 129 3.2.7 The Barracks 133 3.2.8 Metrology and Design 135 Notes 141 3.3 Construction Sequence 142 3.3.1 The Constructional Sequence of the Forts 142 3.3.2 The Constructional Sequence of the Buildings 157 Notes 164 3.4 Constructional Techniques 166 3.4.1 The Principia 166 3.4.1.1 Foundations, Masonry and Openings 166 3.4.1.2 The Roof 186 3.4.1.3 Floors and Wall Finishes 189 Notes 193 3.4.2 The Granaries 195 3.4.2.1 Foundations, Masonry and Openings 195 3.4.2.2 The Floors 201 3.4.2.3 The Roofs 208 3.4.2.4 Buttresses 210 3.4.2.5 Wall Finishes 212 Notes 213 3.4.3 The Gates 215 3.4.3.1 Foundations, Masonry and Openings 215 3.4.3.2 Gates and Pivots 228 3.4.3.3 The Roofs 233 3.4.3.4 Wall Finishes 233 Notes 235 3.4.4 The Barracks 236 3.4.4.1 Foundations, Masonry and Openings 236 3.4.4.2 The Roof 239 3.4.4.3 Floors and Wall Finishes 242 Notes 243 VI 3.4.5 Conclusion 244 3.4.5.1 Design and Form 244 3.4.5.2 Constructional Methodology 249 3.4.5.3 Decorated and Moulded Stonework 254 3.4.5.4 Summary 256 Notes 258 4.0 Reconstruction of the Buildings 259 4.1 The Principia 259 4.2 The Granaries 263 4.3 The Gates 268 4.4 The Barracks 277 Notes 279 5.0 Summary and Recommendation 280 Notes 286 6.0 Glossary of Terms 287 7.0 Bibliography and abbreviations 292 vu Volume 2 The Appendices Appendix 1 Data sheets for the primary forts 1 Notes to appendices 1 and 2 2 Schedule of primary forts per lineam valli and to the west coast 3 WaUsend 4 Newcastle upon Tyne 25 Benwell 30 Rudchester 39 Halton Chesters 48 Chesters 62 Carrawburgh 80 Housesteads 87 Great Chesters 105 Carvoran 112 Birdoswald 116 Castlesteads 133 Stanwix 136 Burgh-by-Sands 141 Drumburgh 145 Bowness-on-Solway 149 Beckfoot 157 Maryport 160 Moresby 165 VIU Appendix 2 Data sheets for the secondary forts 168 Schedule of secondary forts 169 Birrens 170 Netherby 174 Bewcastle 177 South Shields 183 Chesterholm 209 Old Church, Brampton 220 Appendix 3 Tables setting out tabulated dimensions of the buildings and their selected parts 227 Table 1 Dimensions and area of the forts 228 Table 2 The principia, comparative overall sizes 230 Table 3 The principia, comparative dimensions 231 Table 4 The principia, comparative dimensions 232 Table 5 The granaries, comparative overall sizes 233 Table 6 The granaries, comparative sizes of buttresses 234 Table 7 The granaries, method of support to floors 235 Table 8 The gates, comparative overall sizes 236 Table 9 The gates, comparative dimensions 238 Table 10 The gates, comparative dimensions 240 Table 11 The barracks, comparative overall sizes 242 Table 12 The barracks, comparative dimensions 244 Table 13 The barracks, comparative dimensions 246 ix Appendix 4 Catalogue of decorated and moulded stonework 248 A Colunm capitals 249 B Column bases 251 ^ C Columns 253 D Cornice mouldings 254 E String courses 255 F Gate imposts 258 G Base moulds and thresholds 259 H Merlon caps 261 J Arcuate lintols 262 Notes 265 Appendix 5 Structural calculations 266 Notes to appendix 5 267 A The basilica, Birdoswald B The south granary, Birdoswald Volume 3 List of Figures and Plates Figures 1 Fig. 1 Location plan of Hadrian's Wall 2 2 Plan of the Roman Fort at: Wallsend 3 3 Newcastle upon Tyne 4 4 Benwell 5 5 Rudchester 6 6 Halton Chesters 7 7 Halton Chesters - Magnetometry Interpretation 8 8 Chesters 9 9 Carrawburgh 10 10 Housesteads 11 11 Great Chesters 12 12 Carvoran 13 13 Birdoswald 14 14 Birdoswald - Magnetometry Interpretation 15 15 Castlesteads 16 16 Stanwix 17 17 Burgh-by-Sands 18 XI 18 Drumburgh 19 19 Bowness-on-Solway 20 20 Beckfoot 21 21 Maryport 22 22 Moresby 23 23 Birrens 24 24 Netherby 25 25 Bewcastle 26 26 South Shields 27 27 Chesterholm 28 28 Old Church, Brampton 29 29 Plan of the/7n>2C7/7/<3r, Chesters 30 30 Plan of the principia, Housesteads 31 31 Diagramaric floor plan showing position of tabulated dimensions, principia and gates 32 32 Diagramatic floor plan showing position of tabulated dunensions, granaries and barracks 33 33 Section through a log showing a halved timber 34 34 Section through slated roof covering showing lap 35 35 Reconstruction of/?n>zcz/?/a, Chesters 36 36 Roof forms: couple, close couple, and rafter roofs 37 37 Purlin roof and truss 38 38 Reconstruction of northern ambulatory and entrance into courtyard, Wallsend 39 XU 39 Reconstruction of the basilica, Birdoswald 40 40 Reconstruction of the basilica, Birdoswald; section and part elevation of arcade 41 41 Reconstruction of granary (A5, mid-Antonine), South Shields 42 42 Section through a Severan granary at South Shields, showing introduction of a first floor with access above the loading bay 43 43 Part plan and elevation of reconstructed barrack block 44 44 Part elevation and section of reconstructed barrack block 45 45 Section through typical barrack block showing alternative roof forms 46 46 Arrangement of double cantilevered scaffolding 47 47 Plan of Hadrianic principia, Chesterholm 48 48 Pier to east of aedes showing chamfered plinth course and upper chamfered course, principia, Chesters 49 49 Reconstruction of opening to aedes, principia, Chesters 50 50 Reconstruction of floor to granary, Housesteads 51 51 Reconstruction of a gate, Wallsend 52 52 Front elevation and section through granary, Halton Chesters 53 53 Reconstruction of a gate with two storey towers, Birdoswald 54 54 Reconstruction of a gate with three storey towers and a storey over the portals, Wallsend 55 55 Diagram showing layout of joists at first floor level to east gate, Birdoswald 56 56 Section through a typical barrack block, Wallsend 57 xm 57 Sandstone capital and two colunm bases of differing style, principia, Wallsend 58 58 Capital to the arcade to the granary, Housesteads 59 59 A Cornice mould, principia, Housesteads 60 B Cornice mould, principia, Housesteads 60 60 A Moulded sill to probable tribunal, principia.