Epiacum Roman Fort

Set high in the North Pennines, Epiacum Roman Fort, also known as Whitley Castle, is one of the most distinctive and best-preserved examples of its type. The Scheduled Monument, with its striking ramparts and commanding views, tells the story of Roman occupation in a dramatic upland setting. Yet its survival into the future is far from assured. Water management pressures, visitor erosion from the nearby Pennine Way, livestock and rabbit activity, and slope instability around adjacent farm buildings all pose significant risks to its fabric and buried archaeology.

Crosby Granger Architects have been appointed as lead consultants to guide a comprehensive feasibility study that will inform the long-term conservation and sustainable management of the monument. Working on behalf of Epiacum Heritage CIO and the Edgar family, our role is to coordinate a multidisciplinary team to assess the site’s vulnerabilities, explore practical solutions, and prepare a costed plan that will underpin future funding bids.

Our methodology combines rigorous research and survey with sensitive design thinking. Detailed mapping and condition assessments will provide a clear baseline of the fort’s current state, while hydrological and hydrogeological studies will help us understand how water interacts with the archaeology, particularly in the waterlogged areas close to the suspected Roman bathhouse. Alongside this, ecological surveys will ensure that protected species and habitats are safeguarded, and engineering analysis will address the stability of slopes and the alignment of a re-routed farm track that avoids damage to the Scheduled area.

Images courtesy of Dextra Visual and the Trustees of Epiacum Roman Heritage

Equally important is the consideration of people. Epiacum is a lived-in landscape as well as a monument, and the feasibility study will balance the needs of farm access with the desire for public engagement. Proposals will include sustainable visitor routes, interpretation opportunities, and volunteer activities that connect the community directly with the conservation process.

This project exemplifies the approach at Crosby Granger Architects. It draws on our technical expertise and conservation experience, but also on our belief that heritage projects must be rooted in place, responsive to their communities, and designed with longevity in mind. By leading this study, we aim to provide Epiacum Heritage with a clear and achievable roadmap that protects the fort, enhances public understanding, and ensures that this remarkable site remains a vital part of the North Pennines landscape for generations to come.