Drumburgh

  • Drumburgh is a village near the south coast of the Solway Firth in the County of Cumbria.
  • It was the site of a Roman fort called Coggabata, which was part of Hadrian's Wall. The fort controlled a ford known as the Sandy wath, which crossed the Solway Firth at low tide from Drumburgh to Dornock in Scotland.

Drumburgh Castle

  • Medieval Drumburgh Castle now stands nearby, built entirely with re-used stone from the Roman Wall and Fort.

Ancient Crossings of the Solway Firth

  • Solway is from the Saxon words ‘Sol’ meaning mud, and ‘Wath’ meaning ford. Solway means muddy ford.
  • Farmers used the crossings to drive their cattle to markets, as did invading Armies in both directions.
  • These fords became passable at very low spring tides. The main crossings of the Solway were:
    • Bowness wath or Annan wath
    • Sandy wath
      • Drumburgh to Dornock in Scotland
    • Sul wath
      • Across the mouth of the river Esk
    • Peat wath
      • Across the mouth of the river Eden

Roman Roads

 

Drumburgh Castle

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