Glannoventa

Glannoventa is a Roman fort at Ravenglass on the west coast of Cumbria, England, linked to a Roman naval base on this stretch of shore. Its best-preserved companion is the bath house known as Walls Castle, which still stands several metres high.

Where is Glannoventa?

The fort lies in Walls Plantation, about 700 metres south of the village of Ravenglass. It occupies a low, flat rise close to the coast. The bath house, Walls Castle, stands a short distance to the north-east and is protected as a separate scheduled monument.

What does the name mean?

The name comes from Roman records, and each one spells it differently. The 2nd-century Antonine Itinerary has it as Clanoventa. The 4th-century Notitia Dignitatum gives Glannibanta. The 6th-century Ravenna Cosmography lists Cantiventi. Modern writers usually use the form Glannoventa, and some sources spell it Glannaventa.

What is the history of the fort?

The first fort was built around AD 122 as a turf-and-timber installation. Within about ten years it was replaced by a stone fort. A civilian settlement grew up alongside it, which is why the site is described as both a fort and a settlement. Ravenglass is a sheltered natural harbour, and the fort is linked with a harbour or naval base, though this has not been proven.

What can you see today?

Very little of the fort rises above ground. The buried remains survive, and parts show as earthworks in the landscape. The real highlight is the bath house. It dates to roughly AD 130, and its walls survive to almost 4 metres (about 13 feet), which makes it one of the tallest surviving Roman structures in the north of England. At least two of its rooms had under-floor heating, the hypocaust system that warmed Roman baths. The local name "Walls Castle" reflects how the tall ruin looked to later generations, who did not know its Roman origin.

Why visit?

• The bath house is among the best-preserved Roman buildings in northern England.
• It shows how the Roman army brought comforts such as heated baths to the edge of the empire.
• It sits close to Ravenglass, a coastal village with a harbour and a railway, so it combines easily with a day on the Cumbrian coast.

Frequently asked questions

Is Glannoventa the same as Ravenglass Roman Fort? Yes. Historic England lists the site as Ravenglass Roman fort. A few older writers argued for other locations, but the Ravenglass identification is the one used in the official record.

What is Walls Castle? It is the Roman bath house belonging to the fort, not a medieval castle.

Is there much to see of the fort itself? Not much. The fort is mostly buried, so the bath house is the main sight.

When was it built? The fort dates to about AD 122, and the bath house to about AD 130.