Binchester Roman Fort

Explore the exceptionally well-preserved remains of not just one but two bath-houses. One lies inside the fort and has one of the most intact hypocaust (underfloor) heating systems in the whole of Britain. The protective structure over this bath-house was replaced in 2018 by a more sturdy successor which features improved interpretation and decoration.  The other bath-house lies outside the fort and is even better preserved with walls still standing to a height of more than two metres (six feet) above Roman floor level. Find out why taking a bath in Roman times was about more than just getting clean. Walk in the footsteps of Roman soldiers within the remains of the commanding officer's house - see if you can find the 'Beast of Binchester' among the ruins.

Site location

Binchester Fort is in the centre of County Durham, approximately one and a half miles north of Bishop Auckland. Car parking is available on-site and the fort is signposted from the A690 Durham to Crook road, from A688 Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland road. 

General admissions

• adults £5.00
• concessions £4.00
• children £3.00 (under 4s free)

Contactless payment and all major cards are accepted.

Opening hours

Opening dates 2020

Binchester is open every day from 1 April to 31 October, 10.00am - 4.30pm.

Groups must book in advance. Visits by groups and school parties may be available outside these dates by prior arrangement.

Note: Assistance Dogs only allowed on site. 

The Binchester Guide Book tells the story of Binchester Roman Fort which began around 75 AD, over 1900 years ago. The booklet provides an introduction to the site and a visitor guide to an amazingly well-preserved site in parts where you can 'walk in the footsteps' of Roman legionary and auxiliary soldiers. You can buy a copy from Durham County Record Office Online Shop.

Events 2020

• Monday 25  May - ancient crafts and technology (new for 2020)
• Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August - Roman Festival featuring mock battles (displays of slingshots, archery and catapult artillery)
• Monday 31 August - Roman military displays

Events commence at 11.00am, repeated 2.00pm.

Binchester Roman Festival 2019 video transcript (PDF, 52.5kb)

Roma Antiqua, Barbaratus and assorted mercenaries return to Binchester for the final encounter of the year.

Supported by other elements of the Roman Army, including Barbaratus the expert cavalryman, joins battle with the enemies of Rome. See demonstrations of archery, slingstaffs, and firing of the full-size replica of the artillery catapult known as the ballista.

Visit the tented encampment and inspect the weapons, armour and equipment of Roman soldiers as well as the stalls of civilian traders and artisans. Join the guided tour of the site and be amazed by the size and importance of Vinovia and its magnificently well-preserved buildings.

Entry cost:

• £7 for adults
• £6 for concessions
• £4 for children aged four and above
• free for youngsters under four

Contactless payment and cards are now accepted on site, parking is free and portable toilet facilities are available. Only assistance dogs are allowed on site.

Background history

Binchester (Vinovia) was founded around 80 AD and for a time one of the largest Roman military installations in the whole of Northern Britain. About 7 hectares in size it was large enough to have accommodated a battle-group formed of several cohorts of legionary infantry and one or more units of auxiliary cavalry. Even when it was reduced to 4 hectares around 160 AD it was still the largest fort in County Durham. 

We know from inscriptions that the garrison of this later fort was a cavalry unit originally recruited in central Spain accompanied at some point by a unit of cavalry originating from the area we now know as Holland. The fort, which continued to be occupied down to the end of the Roman period, was accompanied by a large civil settlement around it. People continued to live in the fort for several centuries after Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire. 

Excavations

The lengthy process of recording and analysing the information recovered during the international field-school excavation of 2009-2015 (a partnership involving Durham County Council Archaeology Section, Durham University Archaeology Department and Archaeological   Services, along with Stanford and Texas Tech Universities from the USA) and the cemetery excavation by Durham University in 2016-17 is now well underway. The second season of the most recent community excavation project, funded by The Auckland Project, and focussing on the site of the north-east gate of the Flavian fort took place in 2019. This, too, has  now entered its post-excavation phase. No excavations are planned for 2020.   

Accessibility

The site has been specially laid out with level access for people in wheelchairs and those with prams. An accessible toilet and parking bays are provided. The site has a shop, toilet and limited refreshment facilities.

Dogs

Unfortunately dogs are not permitted on site apart from Assistance Dogs.

Education

A school room, workshop activities and guided tours can be pre-booked in advance for school groups and small parties (up to 50).