Here is the site of the Roman Fort Branodunum which was built in the 230s and was one in a series of nine Saxon Shore Forts. According to the 4th-century Roman document Notitia Dignitatum, the fort was garrisoned by the Equites Dalmatae Brandodunenses ("Dalmatian cavalry of Branodunum"). However a tile has found on site stamped Cohors I Aquitanorum suggests that the original garrison was the “The First Cohort from Aquitania” although there is no documentation of this.
There have been numerous archeological digs over the past few hundred years with the most recent being a successful Time Team dig in August 2012 with the programme being shown on Channel 4 in early 2013. The site was extensively scanned with radar and geophysics equipment and the results were astounding with extensive detail uncovering previously unknown buildings in fantastic pictures.
The walls were still standing at 4m (12ft) up until the 17th century but extensive robbing of the site in the following centuries of the material for local buildings means that all that remains today is the site and the earth works. Stone from the fort can be seen in many local houses and the church at Brancaster.
The site was acquired by the National Trust in two lots in 1984 and 1985 with some funds coming from Mr C E Little in memory of his wife Mrs Dorothy Little. Branodunum is of national importance and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
For more information on the site please see the interpretation panels.