Eaton Constantine

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Eaton Constantine is a small village in the English county of Shropshire. It is located just off the B4380 road, between Atcham and Buildwas.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) lived here in his boyhood. His childhood home, now called Baxter's House (a private residence), is a 16th century timber-framed house in the center of the village.

Near Eaton Constantine are the remains of a Roman vexillation fortress and three marching camps near a bend in the River Severn. The fortress lies in open farmland on a low south-eastward projecting spur between Ranslet House and Eye Farm. It was defended by a triple-ditch system measuring about 920 x 1,050 feet (c.280 x 320m) within the defences, which enclosed an area of just under 22¼ acres (c.9ha). This substantial defensive system indicates that this was no ordinary marching encampment and its size is sufficient to house a substantial force of around 2,500 Roman legionnaires and auxiliary soldiers. The fortress was probably occupied by a contingent of Legio XIV Gemina together with a couple of auxiliary cavalry units.