Details

This monument includes a Roman fort situated on an east-facing promontory
overlooking the valley of a small tributary of the River Batherm. The fort
survives as a rectangular enclosure measuring 103m north to south by 96m east
to west, bounded by a 8m wide single rampart standing up to 1m high and 4
outer ditches which survive as buried features. Within the fort the
cropmarks of a number of features visible during the summer of 1992 are
thought to represent contemporary buildings. Fieldwalking has recovered
sherds of Roman tile and a single fragment of samian ware. The boundary wall
running across the monument is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground
beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Roman forts served as permanent bases for auxiliary units of the Roman Army.
In outline they were straight sided rectangular enclosures with rounded
corners, defined by a single rampart of turf, puddled clay or earth with one
or more outer ditches. Some forts had separately defended, subsidiary
enclosures or annexes, allowing additional storage space or for the
accommodation of troops and convoys in transit. Although built and used
throughout the Roman period, the majority of forts were constructed between
the mid first and mid second centuries AD. Some were only used for short
periods of time but others were occupied for extended periods on a more or
less permanent basis. In the earlier forts, timber was used for gateways,
towers and breastworks. From the beginning of the second century AD there was
a gradual replacement of timber with stone.
Roman forts are rare nationally and are extremely rare south of the Severn
Trent line. As one of a small group of Roman military monuments, which are
important in representing army strategy and therefore government policy, forts
are of particular significance to our understanding of the period. All Roman
forts with surviving archaeological potential are considered to be nationally
important.

The Roman fort 300m NE of Cudmore Farm survives well and is an
outstanding example of its class. Roman forts are rare in the south west of
England and this fort is considered to represent the best surviving example in
the region.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Frere, S S, 'Britannia' in Clayhanger Fort, , Vol. 22, (1991), 281
Other
Frances Griffith,

Source: Historic England