Coventinas Well - Hadrians Wall

We named our narrowboat Coventina after the Goddess ‘Coventina’ (a Romano-British goddess of wells and springs).  She is known from multiple inscriptions found at a site in Northumberland surrounding a wellspring near Carrawburgh on Hadrian's Wall.




Temple to the God Mithras- Brocolitia

We were interested in seeing Coventina’s Well and the items excavated from the well (which are on display at Chester’s Roman Fort Museum) so we booked a couple of nights at a B & B in Acomb near Hexham to visit the Roman sites and explore the area.





Coventina’s Well, a stone shaft more than 7ft deep was discovered by chance by lead miners near the  Brocolitia Roman Fort site. We could see the area where the well had once been and the remains of the temple to the God Mithras was interesting to see nearby.

Excavation of the site revealed several inscribed altars, some with depictions of Coventina in typical Roman nymph form - reclining, partially clothed and associated with water.





On the other altar below, Coventina is either depicted in triple form or with two attendants.

Inside the well, excavator's found small stone altars, pottery, incense burners, jewelry, small figurines and thousands of coins which are all on display at Chester’s Roman Fort Museum.



Items excavated from Coventina's Well

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Northumberland, both the history and the amazing scenery .  This trip  has also given us the incentive to attempt the challenge of walking the full length of Hadrian's Wall in the future!!!!



Hadrian's Wall