Milecastle 43

Milecastle 43 was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. It was obliterated when the fort at Great Chesters was built.

Description

Milecastle 43 was situated at Great Chesters, and was destroyed when the Aesica fort was built.

Excavations

The foundations were discovered during an excavation in 1939, and were found beneath the fort wall and rampart between the north gate and north-west angle of Aesica. The excavations showed that the milecastle had a short axis with a Type I gateway. There are no visible remains.

Associated turrets

Each milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 43 are known as Turret 43A and Turret 43B.

Turret 43A

Turret 43A was located by exploratory excavation in 1912. The site is overlain by turf-covered spoil from the Wall, and no remains of the turret can be seen.

Turret 43B

Turret 43B was also located by exploratory excavation in 1912. There are no visible remains.

Public access

The Hadrian's Wall Path passes through the remains of Aesica fort close to the location of the milecastle. The sites of both turrets are accessible via the Hadrian's Wall Path.