THE KING'S STABLES - (Renamed - see listing) Traditional Cache
THE KING'S STABLES - (Renamed - see listing)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A short stroll from nearby free parking.
THE CACHE HAS NOT BEEN RELOCATED NOR IS IT A NEW ONE - IT IS POLTROSS BURN MILECASTLE CACHE RENAMED AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOCALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN THE ORIGINAL NAME - THE KING'S STABLES - HOPE THIS HELPS YOUR CAMPAIGN.
Poltross Burn is one of the best preserved milecastles on Hadrian's Wall, and includes an oven, a stair to the rampart walk, and the remains of its north gateway. The milecastles were defended gateways; their main role would have been to control movement through the Wall.
From Newcastle to nearby Willowfordbridge the whole construction was made of stone. The width of the curtain was intended to be 3m (10 ft), but while the building was going on it was narrowed to 2.5m (8 ft - sometimes only 6 ft). This gives us the information that the milecastles and turrets were built first ready to be connected by the broad wall. The height of Hadrian's Wall is assumed to be between 3.5m to 4.8m.- the steps at Poltross Burn for instance suggest an inner height (south) of 3.6m and an outer height (north) of 4.2m.
West of Willowfordbridge Hadrian's Wall was built of turf for a length of 31 Roman miles. The reason for this change of material remains uncertain (maybe not enough stone was available or a faster construction was needed). But whatever the reason for the change was, the turf construction could certainly serve the same purpose as the stone curtain!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
kk