LANCHESTER (Longovicium)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History:

One of the Dere Street forts, Lanchester lies between the forts at Ebchester to the north and Binchester to the south. Interestingly, the name translates as "Place of Ships" or possibly "Place of Marines" suggesting that, despite the distance from the sea, there is some connection with the Classis Britannica (British Fleet), perhaps the settlement of naval veterans? Although we have no concrete date for the fort's construction, it was built some time during the late 1st or early 2nd Century by men of the Twentieth Legion, as is evidenced by an inscription found there.

Occupation:

Between 175 and 180 AD, Longovicium was occupied by a thousand strong part-mounted Cohort of Vardulli. By the mid 3rd Century, they had been replaced by the 1st Cohort of Lingones, also part-mounted and by the end of the century, it seems this unit had been boosted by a vexillation of Spanish Suebi who were attached to the Cohort. At the end of the fort's life (late 4th or early 5th Century) Lanchester was occupied by an irregular auxiliary unit known only as the "Numerus Longovicanorum" or "Company from Longovicium" about which we have no information.

Remains and Visit:

Lanchester is visible at this time only from a layby on the road above the town. The fort itself is on private farmland and cannot be trespassed upon. Currently the only visible sign is the fort wall, which surrounds the entire site visibly, though with no facing stones, rubble core only. The site is best visible in winter with no undergrowth. There have been a number of times interested groups have looked at excavating and opening up Lanchester, the latest being Durham University. Some finds from Lanchester can be seen in Durham's Fulling Mill museum.

Images:

Northwest corner	Western rampart	The fort platform	Inscription in Durham museum