Excavations in Saddleworth aim to explore the annexe that’s attached to an ancient Roman fort, while shedding light on how people travelled through the north of England at that time.
About the Castleshaw Discovery
Castleshaw is on the western side of the Pennines, and is close to a Roman route that once connected a number of settlements across England. The first fort dates back to AD 79, the era when Romans were asserting their control over Britain.
The 2026 excavation has uncovered an eastern annexe, as well as more insight into how the fort operated. Evidence found timber structures and signs that people would stop at Castleshaw for supplies, food and rest, before continuing their journey across the Pennines. The Friends of Castleshaw have released a statement saying the excavation has now finished, and that a full report is underway.
The fort was built during the governorship of Gnaeus Julius Agricola, and is over 2.5 acres. It housed 500 auxiliary soldiers and guarded the road that connected Chester and York. The site is open to the public, and visitors can see the outline of the fort and fortlet. To find out more, you can visit the GM Ringway website.
Rome’s Lasting Architectural Appeal
According to the latest reports, the fort acted almost as a service station, providing people with a rest stop while travelling north. It also ensured that those passing through could be monitored in the event of an invasion. Roman structures were often very advanced and have withstood the test of time, thousands of years after their creation.
The Colosseum is the most notable example, and to this day, it is one of the most-visited attractions in Italy, welcoming nine million visitors last year. Roman engineers used sophisticated systems to transport materials, concrete, brick, timber, and mortar during its construction, and to this day, it is recognised as being one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. 
Darren McLean’s Build Like a Roman podcast focuses on how ancient structures were made, and how battles and war helped people to find new materials which would then go on to be used in construction. Rome Reborn: Flight over Ancient Rome also provides a 3D virtual tour of Roman structures during the reign of Emperor Constantine in 320 AD. Slot games that can be played at a UK casino also embrace the Roman theme. Titles like Moo Moo Moo feature huge colosseums, archways and arenas, all of which pay homage to the infrastructure created to support Roman gladiator fights, while housing thousands of spectators.
Continued interest like this helps to make Castleshaw significant, because Roman engineering is synonymously tied to grand structures and huge arenas. Discoveries like this, however, shed some light on how forts were used to give weary travellers a place to rest, while guarding one of the biggest, most navigable roads in the north.
Within the fort, raised granary floors, timber structures and advanced drainage systems were also found, all of which served legions as they once marched across the Pennines. As archeologists have referred to the fort as being a motorway and service station, it’s evident that Romans laid the foundation for the same structures we use today.
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