**Binchester (Vinovia) Fort – Quick Facts**

Where

Bishop Auckland, County Durham Map & Website

Vinovia was built along Dere Street after Governor Petilius Cerealis quelled the rebellion of the Brigantes around AD 70.
The fort was located where the Roman road crossed the River Wear on a spur of high ground. It was protected on the south and west by the River Wear and on the north and northeast by marshy ground.
The first fort at Vinovia was built around AD 75 and was the largest one in the north at 17.66 acres and held around 1500-2000 soldiers.
The second fort, built in stone around AD 150, was smaller at 11.16 acres and held around 1000 troops.
In the 2nd century the Ala Hispanorum Vettonium from Spain, a cavalry unit, was the garrison housed in the fort. This unit was known to have also been stationed at Bath, Brecon and Bowes.
Another cavalry unit, the cuneus Frisiorum Vinoviensium from the Frisii tribe of coastal Holland, were stationed at the fort for a substantial length of time during the 3rd century.

A length of the Roman road known as Dere Street which ran through the fort.
A section of a very large praetorium, the fort commanding officer’s courtyard house, including substantial remains of its bath suite. This palatial complex dates from AD 340.
There are 88 hypocaust (underground heating) pillars still in position in the bath suite.
Clay bricks from the bath suite have been stamped with N.CON and thought to have been made by the Numerus Concangis, a unit based at Chester-le-Street (Concangium).
On one of the foundation stones that would have been below ground level there is a carving of a headless animal (could be a cat or a dog) known as the Beast of Binchester.