600 metres east of Birdoswald Roman Fort past Milecastle 49 , Harrow's Scar Milecastle, is the remains of a bridge (Willowford bridge) this carried the wall over the River Irthing. These remains can now be reached by a footbridge. Over time the river has moved, leaving the east abutment of the bridge high and dry, while little if anything remains of the western side. The remains now are a very modified version of the original.

Over time the Romans built three bridges on this site.

 .

close up from the air

There is a  914 metre (2,999 feet) stretch of Wall, including two turrets and impressive bridge remains beside the River Irthing one of three foundation sets on this site of bridges.

From over Birdoswald Roman Fort
notice also Milecastle 49  Harrow's Scar, before the wood on the left

Looking west, we see the line of wall ending at the bridge

Aerial photos by Simon Ledingham used with permission. Previously on www.visitcumbria.com

Photo over the river by Mike Quinn

Photo by Oliver Dixon

Photo by Mike Quinn

Turret 48B at NY623664 Photo by Les Hull

Turret 48A Grid ref NY628663, near Gilsland. Photo by Les Hull

Location: Willowford Bridge, nr Gilsland, Cumbria Grid Reference: NY622664 Ceremonial County: Cumberland Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Multimap   Google  Getting there: a path from Birdoswald Roman Fort and over a foot bridge Access: I think this is available at any time as you don't need to go through Birdoswald Roman Fort to have access to the wall path. Website: Other Useful Websites: VC   Geograph Email: Address: Postcode: Telephone: Opening Times: Open at all times Charges: None Nearby Locations: Birdoswald Roman Fort Milecastle 49  Harrow's Scar Other Location Pages: Hadrian's Wall Route Guide Other Relevant Pages:  Roman Frontiers     Hadrian's Wall   Hadrian's Wall - Featured Places Notes:

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Grid(s) or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

By: Keith Park	Section: Roman	Key:
Page Ref: willowford_bridge	Topic: Roman Britain	Last Updated: 05/2010

.