Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 38 – Hotbank

Milecastle 38 (Hotbank) was a milecastle on Hadrian’s Wall in the vicinity of Hotbank Farm. It is notable for the joint inscription bearing the names of the emperor Hadrian and Aulus Platorius Nepos, the governor of Brittania at the time the Wall was built. Little remains of the milecastle except rubble walls outlined by robber trenches. The milecastle was excavated in 1935 and found to be 18 metres (59 ft) east-west by 15 metres (49 ft) north-south. It was found to have a short axis, with a Type I gateway.

Pottery finds indicated an occupation of the 4th century. There was a rectangular building in the south-west corner and a causeway, 3.6 metres (12 ft) wide, to the east. A tombstone was found, inscribed “…us.. xit annis… mensibus du…ebus quinque”, re-used as a pivot stone in the south gateway.