Stanegate

The Stanegate was a 44 mile (71km) long Roman Road that connected Carlisle with Corbridge.
The modern A69 between Corbridge and Carlisle, runs parallel to much of the Roman Stanegate.

It was started during the Governorship of Agricola who was Governor of Britannia between 77-85 CE.
The Stanegate was built before the construction of Hadrian's Wall and runs parallel to it, south of the River s South Tyne and Eden.
It was built for wheeled traffic and remained in use because the Military Way behind Hadrian's Wall was not built for wheeled traffic.
It ran along the southern flank of the rivers Eden and South Tyne between the major Forts at Carlisle and Corbridge, whereas Hadrian’s Wall runs to the north of these rivers.
Around 105 CE it became the main defensive line and had additional smaller Forts built between the larger ones.

Subsequently, this defensive line was moved to the north of the Rivers and became Hadrian’s Wall (122-26 CE).
However, the Stanegate remained active as the only cart road running east west, as the Military Way behind Hadrian’s Wall was not built for wheeled traffic.

The Stanegate Forts continued to function after the Wall was completed in 128 CE, as documented by the Vindolanda Tablets which were letters written on wax tablets found near the Fort of Vindolanda.

Vindolanda Fort