Byrness : Romano-British Period

From the later 1st century AD, Redesdale along with the rest of the Northumbrian uplands fell under the control of expanding Roman Empire. The principal bases of Roman power in this region were represented by the forts of High Rochester (Bremenium) and Risingham (Habitancum) situated beside Dere Street, the main road into Scotland.

A shorter lived fort was situated at Blakehope between the two. North of High Rochester, the road climbed out of the valley on to the high moorland watershed eventually reaching the fortlet at Chew Green before dropping down into Scotland.

Dere Street thus avoided the upper reaches of the Rede where Byrness is located and there is no reason to suppose there was any official Roman military activity in the immediate village of the present-day villages.

A link road headed eastwards from High Rochester, across the moors, connecting the fort with Low Learchild (Alauna) on the Devil's Causeway, a third Roman route which led northward through Northumberland from Corbridge towards Berwick (cf. MacLauchlan 1864a; 1864b).