Pike Hill Signal Tower

Pike Hill Signal Tower was one of a number of signal stations that were built on high ground overlooking the line of the Roman Stanegate road in northern Britannia during the early 2nd century [1]. It later became incorporated into Hadrian's Wall [1]. Its remains, a 2-metre long fragment of the south-east wall, lie south of a modern road cutting and field wall, located in the parish of Waterhead in Cumberland [1]. The station at Pike Hill signalled to two nearby stations, Gillalees Beacon and Barrock Fell [1]. Archaeological investigations have shown that the tower was built prior to either the turf or stone walls that exist nearby [1]. The tower was offset from the wall and stood at an angle of 45° to the line of the wall [1]. The signal tower was a square structure measuring around 6 metres on each side [1].