Kirkby Thore: Roman Heritage and Walking Routes

Kirkby Thore combines the history of a Roman settlement with a medieval church building and opportunities for walking. Its Roman heritage includes the Bravoniacum fort, its associated vicus and an important Roman road; the Maiden Way points to a longer route as far as Hadrian’s Wall. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these cultural and historical themes separately from the walking options.

Bravoniacum and the Vicus

Kirkby Thore Roman Fort and Associated Vicus is a designated scheduled monument. It comprises the Roman fort of Bravoniacum and its associated civilian settlement, the vicus. The site lies in fields immediately north and east of Town End in Kirkby Thore; the modern Main Street cuts through it. The fort and the vicus are distinct parts of the monument: the fort is the Roman military installation, while the vicus is the adjoining civilian settlement. Six Roman altars were found at the fort in the 17th and 18th centuries. Two points should be distinguished when considering the dates: the altars are Roman; the centuries given refer to when they were found.

The modern A66 roughly follows an important Roman road. It ran through the vicus outside the fort, below present-day Kirkby Thore. This brings out three distinct aspects of the site’s Roman history: the fort, the civilian settlement and the road.

Roman Architecture and Church Building

Roman Arches on South Side of Street is a Grade II listed building in Kirkby Thore. It consists of two vaulted recesses in a wall reconstructed from Roman material. The material was found during a site clearance in the early 20th century. Both form and material are important to understanding it: the description covers two recesses and a reconstruction using reused Roman material.

The Church of St Michael adds a different historical period. It is a 12th-century parish church, with later additions and alterations. Those interested in architectural history can distinguish its medieval origins from later interventions. The 12th-century date therefore does not mean that the church has remained unchanged since then. Together with the Roman heritage, this gives a layered history: Roman settlement and roads alongside a later history of church building.

Routes and the Maiden Way

Most footpaths and bridleways in the parish of Kirkby Thore are in reasonably good condition and suitable for average walkers. Their condition can vary with the seasons and agricultural use. If you are planning a specific walk, allow for these variations and check the path conditions before setting out.

The Maiden Way is a 32 km route that connected the Roman fort of Bravoniacum in Kirkby Thore, near Penrith, with Magnis at Carvoran on Hadrian’s Wall. Unlike the general description of paths in the parish, the Maiden Way is a specific connection with named endpoints. Check path conditions and access before setting out on this route.

Discover more destinations: Beckermet, Baycliff, Ulverston, Frizington, Winscales, Uldale, Killington, Carlisle

For the main travel overview: Cumbria.