Devil's Causeway

The Devil's Causeway is a Roman roadway that is thought to pre-date Hadrian's Wall. It started at the Portgate, slightly north of Corbridge, where it branched off of the Roman Dere Street (A68 road) as it continues north into Redesdale on its way to Caledonia.[1] The Devil's Causeway continued to near the mouth of the River Tweed at Berwick-Upon-Tweed,[2] where it was used to support a presumed military port.

Less than 1 mile (2 km) to the east of the Portgate is the Roman fort of Onnum (also known as Halton Chesters), and it is probable that the Causeway was patrolled by a cavalry unit based there.

The fort at Halton Chesters was built across the line of the wall facing north, half way between milecastles 21 and 22 about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of Dere Street. The original Hadrianic fort was rather squat in outline, almost square, measuring some 440 feet north-south by 400 feet east-west, with an area just over 4 acres (c. 134 x 122 m; 1.6 ha).

A dedicatory slab from the west gate of the fort tells us that the Sixth Legion were responsible for the initial building work but does not give the name of the original garrison. It is likely, but not proven, that the Hadrianic unit was a cohors quingenaria equitata, an auxiliary force containing a nominal five-hundred men, approximately half of which were mounted. Units of this type have been identified at many Wall forts, and would have been ideally placed here, the infantry contingent to guard the Fort and Wall, and the cavalry to patrol along Dere Street and the Devil's Causeway to the north.[3]

The road passes by Great Whittington then northeast to Hartburn where, just to the west, it crosses the Hart Burn, a tributary of the River Wansbeck. It continues to the east of Netherwitton where there was a much-discussed tower.

Devil's Causeway Tower, Netherwitton, was also known as, or recorded in historical documents as Highbush Wood. King writes 'Marked on some OS maps as tower but now considered to be remains of cottage.' SMR still records it as 'site of tower'. Long records it as 'remains of an irregular shaped tower.' This site has been described as a Pele Tower. The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is questionable.

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After Netherwitton, the road passes to the west of Longhorsley. The road continues east of north until it crosses the River Coquet east of Brinkburn Priory where it starts to head west of north passing the western edge of Longframlington. North of Longframlington the road touches the A697 road then crosses it before passing west of Edlingham. Near to the village of Whittingham there was a Roman fort at Learchild, from here a road headed west to meet Dere Street at Bremenium (High Rochester). Just north of the fort, the road re-crosses the A697 before passing Glanton and reaching Powburn.

At Powburn the A697 follows the course of the Devil's Causeway to cross the River Breamish and stays with it for 2 miles (3.2 km). The Roman road then heads west of north passing Newtown, Northumberland, before crossing the River Till immediately before Horton. At Horton the road continues as a C road for 7 miles (11 km) past Lowick.

The rural village of Lowick can be found in the northern part of Northumberland, 470 feet above sea level, approximately 9 miles (14 km) south of Berwick-upon-Tweed and 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Wooler. The ancient road used by the monks of Lindisfarne to Durham crosses the Roman Road called the Devil's Causeway here – it was at these crossroads that Lowick began to develop.[4]

The road then passes through Berrington before heading towards Tweedmouth and the mouth of the River Tweed.

• Roman roads in Britain