Horstead Vexillation Fortress, Norfolk

This is one for the eye of faith.

This Norfolk field contains Horstead Vexillation Fortress. The camp is 255 x 365m and covers 9.5 ha. It is aligned on an escarpment which curves around its NE and SE sides, all of the corner-angles and all but the S part of the SE side have been plotted, several gaps appear in the perimeter but none have been positively identified as gateways.

It probably dates from the occupation period after the defeat of Queen Boudicca in AD 60, when her homeland of the Iceni was occupied by the Roman Army - before this date the Iceni had been a Protectorate under Prasutagas, Boudicca's husband.

A vexillation fortress was for a Task Force containing a part of a legion - possibly 4 cohortes and its accompanying auxiliaries, about 2,500 men.