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| The
commandant of the fort would have been of equestrian rank
and his quarters, as befit his status, was the largest
building on the site. It was a typical Mediterranean atrium
house, with the rooms arranged around the perimeter of
a small courtyard. Although it was designed for the hot,
dry Italian summers, it seemed to work reasonably well
in northern England. The entrance was on the eastern side,
away from the prevailing winds, and the exterior walls
were blank, which made it reasonably snug. Only the north,
west and part of the east sides are Hadrianic but the
rest may have been finished off in timber. |
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| Housesteads:
Plan of the Praetorium |
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| The
commandant of the fort would have been of equestrian rank
and his quarters, as befit his status, was the largest
building on the site. It was a typical Mediterranean atrium
house, with the rooms arranged around the perimeter of
a small courtyard. Although it was designed for the hot,
dry Italian summers, it seemed to work reasonably well
in northern England. The entrance was on the eastern side,
away from the prevailing winds, and the exterior walls
were blank, which made it reasonably snug. Only the north,
west and part of the east sides are Hadrianic but the
rest may have been built out of timber until such time
as they could be finished off in stone. |
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| The
entrance was in the middle of the eastern
side and led into a courtyard with porticoes
on all four sides. Unfortunately, the columns
for these have not survived. The rooms along
the northern and western sides formed the
domestic quarters of the commandant and his
family. The kitchen, with its raised hearth
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and bread oven, was in the north-eastern corner. The otherrooms
showed considerable evidence of remodelling as successive
short-term officers took up their command. The heated
dining room in the middle of the north block (with its
hypocaust) was a late modification. There was a latrine
in the north-western corner where a stone-lined sewer
was uncovered. Coins were recovered from the sewer along
with a gold signet ring and shards of glass from broken
bowls and jars. Servants quarters and stables occupied
the other two wings. No baths were identified within the
house but Building XI to the west may have served the
purpose. |
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