Cataractonivm

Heritage Site in Yorkshire Richmondshire

England

Cataractonivm

Old milepost This milepost, just north of the River Swale bridge was dug out and repainted by Hilary Jones. It is one of the first generation of castings by Mattison&#039;s of Bedale made for the Highway Districts which set up posts before the County Councils. The hands were cast pointing the wrong way. New hands were fastened over the old ones or they were just painted indicating correctly. The hand to Piercebridge, current spelling, should point to the left. There is part of a broken replacement hand on the Catterick face. This is the only known survivor on this route with Piercebridge in Co. Durham just over the border which is the River Tees. — Old milepost Credit: Chris Minto

Cataractonium, also known as Cataractonivm, is an ancient Roman fort and settlement located in North Yorkshire, England. Situated along the River Swale, it was built in the 1st century AD as a strategic military outpost during the Roman conquest of Britain. The fort covered an area of approximately 3.5 acres and was rectangular in shape, with defensive walls and a large gate.

The settlement surrounding the fort, originally occupied by the Brigantes tribe, grew into a bustling town over time. Cataractonium became an important center for trade and commerce, serving as a key link between the Roman forts in the north and the rest of Roman Britain.

The remains of Cataractonium provide valuable insights into the daily life of the Roman inhabitants. Archaeological excavations have revealed well-preserved structures such as houses, workshops, and a bathhouse, showcasing the advanced engineering and urban planning of the Romans. The town also had a forum, a marketplace, and a temple, indicating its significance as a religious and administrative hub.

Today, Cataractonium is a designated heritage site, attracting visitors interested in Roman history and archaeology. The remains of the fort and the town can be explored, with informative signage providing historical context. The site offers a glimpse into the Roman occupation of Britain and the cultural, economic, and architectural impact they had on the region.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Cataractonivm Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.39/-1.653 or Grid Reference SE2299. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Old milepost

This milepost, just north of the River Swale bridge was dug out and repainted by Hilary Jones. It is one of the first generation of castings by Mattison's of Bedale made for the Highway Districts which set up posts before the County Councils. The hands were cast pointing the wrong way. New hands were fastened over the old ones or they were just painted indicating correctly. The hand to Piercebridge, current spelling, should point to the left. There is part of a broken replacement hand on the Catterick face. This is the only known survivor on this route with Piercebridge in Co. Durham just over the border which is the River Tees.

Chris Minto

Old milepost

See SE2299 : Milestone Catterick Bridge for a during renovation image, and SE2299 : Old milepost from a couple of years ago for an after one, that show significantly more of the post, that has as you can see when comparing, now almost been obscured again. Milestone Society National ID: YN_CTPC01

Nick W

Under the A1

The river Swale from underneath the recently widened bridge carrying the A1.

Peter Bainbridge

A Sculpture depicting Catterick's long association with the military

A modern sculpture depicting a Roman legionary along with a WW1 era and a modern day soldier.

Peter Bainbridge

Bridges across the Swale

In the foreground is the former rail bridge which used to carry the military railway to Catterick Camp which is now a footpath/cycleway. Visible under this bridge is Catterick bridge itself. Catterick bridge was once on the route of the A1, another little known fact is it also carried trains to and from the local gravel quarries. The railway embankment leading up to it can still be seen in the field opposite the Farmers Arms. The point where I was standing when I took the picture is close to where the Roman bridge carried Dere Street across the Swale.

Peter Bainbridge

Catterick Bridge

The River Swale at Catterick Bridge with a little bit of extra water in it. Swale Bridge was built in 1915, as part of the Catterick Camp Military Railway, initially carrying a 2ft gauge construction line from the Richmond branch westwards to Catterick Camp. It was converted to standard gauge in 1916, and was run by the military until 1923 when it was handed over to the LNER. Passenger services to the Camp ended on 26th Oct 1964, freight continued for another 5 years. But by Oct 1970 the branch had been dismantled, and has left little trace of its existence except for the girder bridge over the Swale. For more information about the Catterick Military Railway and the Richmond branch line see Link

Martin Norman

Road and former railway bridge over the A1

The A6136 road crosses the A1 just west of Catterick Bridge. The former railway bridge carried the Catterick Military Railway (closed 1970), and must have seen but a few years service after the A1 bypass was constructed.

mark harrington