Portgate

Portgate is a fortified gateway where Hadrian's Wall intersected with the Roman road Dere Street, serving as a major control point for traffic moving north and south. The remains include a west tower structure that extended beyond the main defensive barrier.

This structure was built approximately 50 years before Hadrian's Wall was constructed, using large stone blocks in its design. The earlier establishment of this site shows that controlling traffic at this crossing was already a priority for Roman forces.

The name Portgate comes from Anglo-Saxon roots, showing how later peoples adapted Roman structures into their own naming traditions. Walking through the area, you can sense how this crossing point remained important to communities long after Rome withdrew.

The remains are located beneath the former B6318 Military Road near Stagshaw Roundabout, making them difficult to access directly. Archaeological work has revealed the structures, but you may need local guidance to find and understand what you are looking at.

Historical records from 1732 describe a square fortress structure at this location that was divided into two equal sections. This documented description provides rare insight into the exact layout of the original Roman installation.