Longovicium

Longovicium was an auxiliary fort located on Roman Dere Street, in the Roman province of Britannia Inferior [1]. It is located just southwest of Lanchester in the English county of Durham [1]. The fort was situated between Vindomora (Ebchester), and Vinovia (Binchester) on Dere Street, the main Roman road linking Eboracum (York) with Hadrian's Wall [1]. It is about 20 miles south of the wall, and was built on high ground with clear views around the site [1]. A construction slab identifies the Legio XX Valeria Victrix as having built the fort, but this gives no real clue as to when the fort was built [1]. Longovicium is also interesting in having had a copious water supply from two aqueducts, one of which was fed from an impounded source to the west [1]. The dam harnessed the water of 21 springs and was 20 feet high and 110 yards in length, being stone faced and clay lined on the inside [1]. Despite not being on the scale of those supplying cities, the Longovicium aqueduct was nevertheless a significant feat of engineering, being considered one of the best preserved aqueducts in Britain [1].