Longovicium

Longovicium was a Roman auxiliary fort on Dere Street southwest of Lanchester, County Durham, built c. 150 AD by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Measuring approximately 160 by 140 metres, it housed around 1,000 troops and was occupied from 160 to 400 AD. The fort featured one of Britain's best-preserved aqueduct systems, with a dam harnessing 21 springs. Large-scale iron smelting suggests it served as an armamentarium for weapons manufacture. Garrison units included the Spanish Cohors Primae Vardulorum and the Gallic Cohors Primae Lingonum. It is a Scheduled Monument.