The Roman gatehouse at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields
Introduction
The photograph on this page of The Roman gatehouse at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields by Jeremy Bolwell as part of the Geograph project.
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The Roman gatehouse at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields
Image: © Jeremy Bolwell Taken: 30 Jul 2021
The gatehouse controlled and scrutinised all goods and people entering and exiting the fort by this route. It housed a contingent of defenders who could repel an incursion, seize miscreants and detain them, and project the strength and status of the fort. The Romans knew how to build. This gatehouse is more modern-looking than gatehouses on medieval castles, which in comparison are sometimes, or even often, cramped, bodged, barely functional and jerry-built symbols of repression, subjugation and elitism. Rome knew that you had to win over the conquered, and share something of your own WITH them. Win hearts and minds. Whereas the Normans, the Anglo-Normans and their lineage were only really interested in exploitation, expropriation and extermination.
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Image Location
Latitude
55.00443
Longitude
-1.431985