The Portgate was a fortified gateway, constructed as part of Hadrian's Wall where it crossed the Roman road now known as Dere Street, which preceded Hadrian's Wall by around 50 years. It was built to control traffic along Dere Street as it passed north through Hadrian's Wall. The gate's 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).

Origins of the name

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.

Construction

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

Excavations and investigations

There has been a square castellum, half within the wall and half without. There is a suggestion even today that the ditch of the wall turned northward round such a building.

Civil parish

Portgate was a civil parish, in 1951 the parish had a population of 52. Portgate was formerly a township in St. John-Lee parish, from 1866 Portgate was a civil parish in its own right until it was abolished on 1 April 1955 and merged with Corbridge.

Monument records