Milecastle 18

Milecastle 18 was a milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. It is located to the west of the settlement of East Wallhouses in Northumberland and is visible as a platform in the ground. The milecastle is of a unique construction, having a gateway associated with builders of the Legio II Augusta and a layout typical of the Legio VI Victrix or Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Historians have suggested that it may have been begun by men of one legion and finished by those of another. One of Milecastle 18's associated turrets shows evidence of being used as a workshop, possibly for the repair of shoes.ConstructionMilecastle 18 was a long-axis milecastle with Type I gateways. Long axis milecastles were usually built by the Legio VI Victrix or Legio XX Valeria Victrix, whilst those with type I gateways are thought to have been built by Legio II Augusta. Milecastle 18 is the only one of the series of 80 to have the combination of type I gateways and a long axis. The gateway of this milecastle is of a rougher construction than others with type I gateways. The milecastle has a broad north wall but narrow side walls suggesting that this example was begun by troops of one legion but completed by those of another.