Black Carts Turret
Building In Simonburn, Northumberland
Turret 29A on Hadrian's Wall.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall runs for 73 miles from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west, and is made up of not just the wall itself, but a series of milecastles, forts, earthworks and turrets.
Milecastles, spaced roughly a Roman mile apart (approximately 1.5 kilometers), functioned as strongpoints with barracks and observation facilities. Midway between each milecastle you would find the turrets which were simpler in construction and served as intermediate viewpoints along the wall.
Black Carts Turret, also known as Turret 29A, is more than just a singular structure. It represents a critical component of a meticulously designed defensive system. Black Carts Turret is a compact structure, measuring a mere 3.45 meters by 3.45 meters (approximately 11 feet by 11 feet). Constructed from locally quarried sandstone, its walls, now only eleven courses high, showcase the robust Roman construction techniques.
One of the slightly unusual things about Black Carts Turret is the presence of flanking wing walls which suggests that the turret might have been built before the main Wall reached this point, initially functioning as a standalone defensive post, it is of a type thought to have been built by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Incidentally the term "carts" within the name is derived from the old English word “ceart”, which means rocky and rough.
While the physical structure provides valuable clues, a pivot hole and two grooves in the stone indicate where the door was hung, truly understanding life within the turret requires a deeper historical analysis. The cramped space likely housed a small contingent of soldiers, perhaps four to six. Their days would have revolved around patrolling the Wall, maintaining a vigilant watch for potential raiders or enemy movements, and meticulously caring for their equipment. Signal fires, relayed from turret to turret, would have formed a crucial communication network along the Wall's length.
Black Carts Turret's location offered a distinct strategic advantage. It lay roughly two miles west of Chollerford, where the well-preserved Chesters Roman Fort housed a significant cavalry detachment. This proximity ensured rapid response and support in case of an attack.
The turret was excavated in 1873, 1912 and finally in 1971, prior to being consolidated by the Department of the Environment. During these excavations, fragments of millstones were found, along with coins of Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian and Constantine in quantities higher than are usually recovered.
The nearest formal parking area is a 40 minute walk away at Brocolitia Car Park, but for a short visit we parked on the small side road off the B6318 right next to Black Carts Turret.
Get 2 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 32 VIPs.
Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.
How To Find Black Carts Turret
Where Is Black Carts Turret?
Lat / Long
55.035966, -2.182539
What three words
Where To Park For Black Carts Turret?
Lat / Long
55.035589, 55.035589
What three words
We parked on the farm track adjacent to the section of Hadrian's Wall as we were only leaping out to quickly visit the site, but you may be better parking at Brocolitia Car Park and walking for 35 minutes along the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Contributed by Andrew Gardner
I love being outdoors, in nature, and experiencing the relaxation it brings. Wandering through the northern countryside seeing unexpected buildings, historic places and occasionally surprised wildlife is one of life's great pleasures.
More Places from AndrewMore Places In Simonburn
Find more fabulous places in Simonburn, Northumberland and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
Ravensheugh Crags Trig Point
Trig Point Simonburn NorthumberlandThe trig point sitting on top of Ravensheugh Crags (256m) near Simonburn.
Temple of Mithras
Religious Place Simonburn NorthumberlandA Roman Temple dedicated to the God Mithras near to Brocolitia Fort on Hadrian's Wall.
Goatstones
Stone Circle Simonburn NorthumberlandA Bronze Age four-poster stone circle located near Ravensheugh Crags in Northumberland.
More Buildings
So this building wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Morpeth Courthouse
Building Morpeth NorthumberlandA former courthouse, and gateway to a gaol, now a restaurant and apartments.
Master Mariners Homes
Building North Shields Tyne And WearA Grade II listed building in North Shields built in 1893-94 to provide accommodation for retired and needy seafarers and their wives.
Saltburn Pier
Building Saltburn North YorkshireThe first pier on the North East Coast and last pier in Yorkshire.
Never Miss A Fabulous Place
If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.
Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.
Sign Up To AlertsFind Us On Facebook
We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.
Join Our Facebook GroupBlack Carts Turret was listed in Building // Northumberland // Simonburn