#Alongthewallin80days - Day 2

Milecastle 78, also known as Kirkland, is one of 80 milecastles along what once was Hadrian's Wall. Milecastle 78 lies halfway between the villages of Glasson and Port Carlisle, grid reference NY245613.    

Milecastle 78 was first located and partially excavated in 1934 where only the west wall was examined and was found to be 2.8 metres wide; one course of masonry stood upon the inner face, the outer face had been robbed.

When the milecastle was again investigated in 2000 as part of the Milecastles Project, trenches were excavated across the west, south, and east walls of the milecastle. This revealed that the the stone milecastle measured approximately 19.2 metres east-west, and 20.7 metres north-south externally. The foundations of the walls were 2.5 metres wide and a burnt feature, possibly a hearth or oven, was found in the southwest corner. No evidence for the Turf Wall milecastle was recovered.

Although there are no visible traces of the milecastle visible above ground,  Hadrians Wall Path runs along  side where the milecastle once was and makes for a very interesting walk. 

Check out tomorrows post for more information on the Hadrians Wall Path and milecastle 77!