Housesteads Roman Fort

The best preserved fort on Hadrian's Wall is Housesteads or Vercovicium as it was called in Roman times.

The via princeps was the main road that ran north-south through the fort. It was always busy with soldiers and
traders.

The Headquarters Building on the via princeps was probably the most important building in the fort. Clerks worked on their paperwork here; the garrisons wages and weapons were locked away here. Soldiers who lost or damaged their weapons could be heavily fined.

The latrine or toilets were friendly places. You could sit next to your neighbour and swap the latest gossip.


There was also a bath house outside the walls of the fort
because these buildings tended to catch fire easily.

Type the answers to these questions.

1) What was the Roman name for Housesteads ?

The Commanders House was built around a courtyard that had a
veranda surrounding it.

The fort had its own hospital building. This was an important place,
especially for soldiers who were
injured in training or fighting.

2) What was the via princeps ?

3) If you were visiting the fort how would you recognise the commander's house ?

In the barrack blocks the rooms slept up to 8 soldiers. There was an oven at each end of a block where soldiers could cook their meals.

4) How could you check if any soldier had lost his sword or knife ?

The fort had a high stone wall all the way round it and one side was
attached to Hadrian's Wall.

5) How could you check if a soldier had been wounded in a fight ?

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(3) You are standing by the East Gate listening to Romulus

(4) You visit the barracks