Birdoswald

Birdoswald is a farmhouse with thick stone walls made from rubble masonry and roofs covered in Welsh slate, typical of buildings in this region. It features a two-story tower on the western side and a central porch as its main entrance.

The property began as a farm in medieval times when a family established their operations here and later gave portions of their land to a nearby monastery. Beneath its foundations lie remains of a Roman military fort that existed centuries before the farm was built.

The farmhouse shows how rural living spaces evolved across different periods, with architectural features from several centuries visible when you walk through it. The mix of building styles tells a story about how families adapted to their environment over time.

The property now houses an information center and museum spaces where you can learn about the Roman fort and the occupation period of this area. It serves as a good place to stop and understand the history before or after exploring the surrounding landscape.

The building sits directly on the foundations of an ancient Roman military fort called Banna, with old stone layers actually incorporated into the walls you see today. This makes it a remarkable example of how new structures were literally built on top of ancient empire ruins.