Pons Aelius may have been the only fort added to the wall after the reign of Hadrian though there may have been an as yet unknown forerunner on the site, or even an earlier fort at Gateshead.

Although building may have started earlier “the dedication to Julia Domnia, shows that the fort had been built by 213” and pottery and numismatic evidence backs up this theory. The fort was small, only 1.53 acres in size, but occupied a site of strategic importance overlooking the Lort Burn and controlling road access to Hadrian’s Wall. The fort seems to have first been occupied by Cohors I Ulpia Traiana Cugernorum Civium Romanum Quingenaria Peditata in the early third century. This 500 strong infantry unit had at some point been awarded Roman citizenship, perhaps for bravery in the recent fighting against the Calidoniae and Meaetae.

The Notitia Dignitatum records the unit at Pons Aelius as being Cohors I Cornoviorum in the late 3 rd/early 4 th century and locally, Cohors I Thracum may have been stationed between the 2 regiments, or at the Gateshead fort.

The Principia of the fort seems to have undergone a change of function between 330 and 360 when it appears to have been used as a market. It was restored in 360 as a Principia, but abandoned shortly afterwards, and was restored again between 388 and 395. Following 400 at some point it finally fell into disuse. The fort was heavily robbed for building materials and the site was cleared by the Saxons although there is very little available dating evidence for these events.

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