Piercebridge Roman Bridge and Fort

Piercebridge Roman Fort (possibly originally known as Morbium or Vinovium) is a scheduled ancient monument situated in the village of Piercebridge on the banks of the rover Tees.

There were Romans here from about 70 AD until at least the early 5th century. The VIctorians used carved stones from this site to build St Mary's church at Gainford, County Durham. Part of this site is under Piercebridge village green.

The fort appears to have followed the standard Roman plan, being rectangular in shape with towers at each corner and two big gates for Dere Street. Inside would be barracks, workshops, granaries and the garrison headquarters with the commandant's separate accommodation.

It is the eastern wall which can be seen today, with the remains of where the eastern gate was robbed out. The original rectangular defence pits are lawned over between the wall and the outer ditch. There were obstacle pits, and also man-traps or camouflaged holes spiked with large, pointed, wooden stakes for unsuspecting attackers to fall into.

In the traditional manner, thegarrison bath house stands outside the fort itself. It is a Grade II* listed building and scheduled ancient monument.

A bronze figure of a ploughman with oxen, which is now in the British Museum, was found here along with Roman coins dated early 4th century.

The archaeological television programme Time Team investigated Piercebridge Roman Fort in 2009, and at that time divers examined holes in the river bed which may have been Roman. Among the finds were a small lead goat and a hairpin. Inscriptions found here attest to the presence of members of the Legio II Augusta, the Legio VI Victrix, and the Legio XX!! Primigenia, as well as worship of the Gods Jupiter and Mars.

The Bridge

Stonework foundations, now marooned in a field, of a bridge which once led to Piercebridge Roman Fort.

The remains at Piercebridge are part of a large bridge which carried Dere Street, the Roman road that linked York with Corbridge, near Hadrian’s Wall, across the river Tees. They now lie high and dry on the south bank of the river, which has moved northwards since the bridge was built.

Discovered during gravel quarrying in 1972, the bridge provides valuable evidence of the engineering achievements of the Romans. The modern village of Piercebridge lies upstream on the opposite bank, largely within the site of a 3rd- and 4th-century Roman fort.

According to the 2005 Conservation Area appraisal, the bridge had a south abutment and four piers