Habitancum
Habitancum was an ancient Roman fort located at Risingham, Northumberland, England. The fort was one of series of built along the extension of Dere Street, a Roman road running from York to Corbridge and onwards to Melrose, in Scotland.
The fort's name is derived from the word Habitanci inscribed on an altar set up by Marcus Gavius Secundinus, a consular beneficiary on duty there. It is not mentioned in other sources such as the Notitia Dignitatum.
Location
The fort is situated north of Corbridge and south of Rochester, the next Roman forts on Dere Street. The fort occupies a low mound overlooking the River Rede. It is about 9 miles north of Hadrian's WallHistory
The fort was built in the early Antonine period c. 138 AD when the frontier was re-established further north on the Antonine Wall. It was destroyed in c. 197 AD but was rebuilt under Septimius Severus by the First Cohort of Vangiones in 205-8 on a different orientation to which the surviving earthworks belong. The fort was destroyed again in the late 3rd century and rebuilt under Constantius about 306. It was destroyed in 343, rebuilt and finally destroyed in about 368.Description
It is oblong in shape and measures north to south, and east to west, giving an area of just over. It was surrounded by a number of ditches, which can still be seen on the south and west sides.The fort had gates in the south and west walls. There may have been gates in the other walls but no sign of them has been found. The walls were of sandstone ashlar, backed by a clay bank thirty feet thick.
There was a substantial vicus as testified by the numerous inscriptions.