Portgate

Portgate
Although the structure of the Portgate is unknown, it is likely to have resembled this reconstruction gateway at Arbeia
Portgate Portgate shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference	NY98736869
Coordinates	55°00′46″N 2°01′18″W / 55.012663°N 2.021612°W / 55.012663; -2.021612Coordinates: 55°00′46″N 2°01′18″W / 55.012663°N 2.021612°W / 55.012663; -2.021612
List of places UK England Northumberland

The Portgate was a fortified gateway, constructed as part of the Roman Hadrian's Wall (Dere Street preceded Hadrian's Wall by around 50 years). It was built to control traffic along Dere Street as it passed through Hadrian's Wall. Its remains exist beneath the old B6318 Military Road to the south-west of the Stagshaw Roundabout (the B6318 was diverted slightly for the construction of the Stagshaw Roundabout, leaving two short sections of the existing road unlinked - the remains of the Portgate are buried beneath the western section).

If any name was given to the structure by the Romans, it is no longer known. The name Portgate is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin.

The Portgate was constructed from very large masonry blocks. It projected between 3.06 metres (10.0 ft) and 3.66 metres (12.0 ft) north of the wall, sitting astride the wall. It was probably a square or rectangular structure.