Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Galava (or Ambleside Roman Fort) are the Roman remains of a fort in Westmorland. Built around AD 79, its ruins are located on the northern shore of Lake Windermere. It was built to guard the Roman road from Brougham to Ravenglass and to act as a supply base. Its location, being so close to Windermere, made it a suitable reception point for goods transported by ship. A small timber fort was built here to house a garrison of 200 men, but it was soon abandoned and the fort was demolished and a second one built in stone on an artificial platform which is still just visible. It housed a cohort of 500 infantrymen. The remains of the fort are situated upon a sand and gravel platform in Borrans Fields, which gently rises from the lakeshore. The fort consisted of a rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 300 by 420 feet and covering an area of almost three acres. The fort had towers at each corner and was enclosed by a four-foot-thick wall of roughly coursed stone and a ditch ran around the outside. The fort stands less than six and a half feet above the water level of the lake and is bordered to the south and west by marsh. It is within the council area of Westmorland and Furness.
Historic England Grade I Listed 1244785.

Place Type: Roman Remains
Historic County: Westmorland
Lat, Long: 54.42256,-2.9673573
Grid Reference: NY 3733 0344
Civil Parish: Lakes CP
Council Area: Westmorland and Furness CA
Police Area: Cumbria PA

GBPN ID: 301966
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Galava,_Westmorland_301966

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