Another week, another #RomanFortThursday & today we are checking out Uxelodunum, aka Petriana, aka Stanwix fort. This was the largest fort on Hadrian’s Wall & it now lies under Stanwix, Carlisle. 
The fort of many names is likely a bit of a writing error. Petrianis was listed in the Notitia Dignitatum, but is actually the name of the fort’s cohort & Uxelodunum, the actual name of the fort, is the Latinised Celtic placename meaning ‘High Fort’.
The fort was built on a natural platform above the River Eden & covers about 9.32 acres (much larger than the average Wall fort). Due to the size, it is thought that the fort housed a cavalry unit of 1000 men, the Ala Petriana.
It was excavated in the 1930s - the south rampart ditch was traced & Hadrian’s Wall was located, forming the northern wall of the fort, & barrack buildings, a granary & the SW angle tower were found.
In 2017, the fort’s bathhouse was located under the grounds of Carlisle Cricket Club. The remains included the preserved hypocaust & an inscription to Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus & mother of Caracalla. Did they visit the fort?
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