Hadrian's Wall (Latin: perhaps Vallum Aelium, "the Aelian wall") is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England. Begun in AD 122, and largely completed within six years, during the rule of emperor Hadrian to prevent military raids on Roman Britain by the Pictish tribes (ancient inhabitants of Scotland) to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in Britain, and to mark physically the frontier of the Empire.
A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England, where it is often known simply as the Roman Wall. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. English Heritage, a government organisation in charge of managing the historic environment of England, describes it as "the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain".
Hadrian's Wall extended west from Segedunum at Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. The A69 and B6318 roads follow the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 kilometres (9 mi) in the west and 110 kilometres (68 mi) in the east.
The Roman Wall was originally built to end at Pons Aelius (Newcastle). Work began in Pons Aelius in 122AD and proceeded towards the west. Subsequently, it was decided that the Wall should be extended further east, probably to protect the river crossing at Pons Aelius. In about 127AD, work was begun on a further four-mile section of the Wall east from the fort of Pons Aelius, passing through present-day Byker and ending at the new fort of Segedunum.
This page will concentrate on the remains and reconstructions in Newcastle and Wallsend only. I think I covered it all but if anyone knows I've missed any please let me know.
Segedunum at Wallsend
r.jpg "Segedunum Museum Viewing Tower and Remains")
Segedunum ("strong fort") lay at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall (in Wallsend) near the River Tyne, forming the eastern-most portion of the wall. It was a garrison for approximately 300 years, almost up to 400AD. Today, Segedunum is the most-excavated fort along Hadrian's Wall.
The site of the fort now contains the excavated remains of the buildings' foundation of the original fort, as well as a reconstructed Roman military bathhouse based on excavated examples at Vindolanda and Chesters forts. A museum contains items of interest that were found when the site was excavated.
Wallsend Remains and Reconstruction
r.jpg "Hadrians Wall reconstruction turrets")
r.jpg "The reconstruction")
A portion of the original wall is visible near Segedunum, and a reconstruction of what the whole wall might have looked like when new.
Reconstruction at Byker
r.jpg "2 metre wide foundation of Hadrians Wall at Byker")
In 2000 archaeologists excavating an area in Byker earmarked for the new East End Swimming Pool and Library rediscovered part of the wall, together with an additional defence system they had never knew existed. As well as turning up the two-metre wide foundations of the wall itself, the archaeologists found evidence of the Roman equivalent of a barbed wire entanglement.
Benwell Temple
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
r.jpg "Benwell Temple")
The remains of a small temple dedicated to the local deity Antenociticus. See the photo of the notice board below for more information.
Benwell Vallum
r.jpg "Benwell Vallum")
r.jpg "Benwell Vallum")
r.jpg "Benwell Vallum")
rr.jpg "Benwell Vallum information board")
r.jpg "Benwell Vallum")
r.jpg "Benwell Vallum")
An original causeway over the vallum, or ditch.
Denton Burn Remains
r.jpg "Denton Burn Remains")
r.jpg "Denton Burn Remains")
r.jpg "Denton Burn Remains next to the busy West Road")
A small stretch of remains of the wall on the SW corner of where Denton Road(A191) crosses the West Road(A186).
Denton Hall Turret
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
r.jpg "Denton Hall Turret")
The foundations of a turret and a 65-metre (213ft) length of Wall.
West Denton Remains
r.jpg "West Denton Remains")
r.jpg "West Denton Remains")
r.jpg "West Denton Remains")
r.jpg "West Denton Remains")
A small section of the wall 70yds to the west of the Denton Hall Turret(above).
A map featuring the locations of the photographs. Zoom in using the controls on the map for a closer look of the locations.
More Information:
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Newcastle Fort (Pons Aelius)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Benwell Fort (Condercum)
- Sitelines - Benwell, Condercum Fort, Vallum crossing and gateway
- Sitelines - Benwell, Condercum Fort, Altar
- Sitelines - Benwell, Condercum Fort, Building slab
- Sitelines - Benwell, Bertram Crescent, Roman vessel and coins
- Sitelines - Newcastle, vicus
- Sitelines - Benwell, Condercum Fort granaries, inscription
- Sitelines - Pandon, Wall Knoll
- Sitelines - Byker, Shields Road Square, gable artwork
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Turret 7b (Denton Hall)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Turret 8b (Union Hall)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Turret 9b (Walbottle)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Turret 10a (Callerton Road or Throckley East)
- Sitelines - Newcastle, Westgate Road, roman features
- Sitelines - Newcastle, Roman cemetery
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Wallsend Fort - St. Francis Presbytery (Wall mile 1)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, St.Francis Presbytery-Tunstall Avenue (Wall mile 1)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Tunstall Avenue-Stephen Street (Wall mile 2)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Stephen Street to Dean Street (Wall mile 3)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Dean Street to the Big Lamp (Wall mile 4)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, the Big Lamp to Benwell Grove (Wall mile 5)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Benwell Grove to Benwell Hill (Wall mile 6)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Benwell Hill to West Denton Hall (Wall mile 7)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, West Denton Hall to Chapel House (Wall mile 8)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Chapel House - Walbottle Dene (Wall mile 9)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Walbottle Dene to City boundary (Wall mile 10)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Westgate Road, Milecastle 4
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Milecastle 8 (West Denton)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Milecastle 9 (Chapel House)
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Milecastle Nine, human remains
- Sitelines - Hadrian's Wall, Milecastle 10 (Walbottle Dene)
- Newcastle upon Tyne Society of Antiquaries
- Hadrian's Wall Country
- Wikipedia - Hadrian's Wall
- BBC - Hadrian's Wall Gallery
- National Trails - Hadrian's Wall Path
- Map showing the route of Hadrian's Wall and the location of the wall forts and other forts close to the line of the wall
- Sustrans - Hadrian's Cycleway
- Tyne & Wear Museums - Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum
- English Heritage - Benwell Roman Temple
- BBC - Hadrian's Wall legacy hidden under Newcastle streets
See my other photos concerning Hadrian's Wall
I just saw "Sting" on the television talking about where he used to live now the Roman archaeology site. This is a wonderful site should get some sort of award. I think he was pointing out the fourth photo and mentioned its where he used to live, a tough situation then. Wondering where that hall nearby he was meeting with friends and musicians. Now I get it "Wallsend"! Mum's side an Urquhart, built it to keep us out I guess, or to encourage development, I work in archaeology in the States. Merry Christmas. I was once in place in Nissoquogue, NY full of lutes! Friend of his?
ReplyDeleteThere's another tiny stretch of visible wall you've missed out. It's at the top of Shield's Road, by the roundabout, just in front of the house that's standing there - I think it's a pub.
ReplyDeleteGeorge: Thanks for your kind words. Did you say Sting was looking at this site?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Thanks, I'll check it out. I think where you mean is what used to be the Blue Bell pub and now it's a cycle shop.
No I saw him on US TV around his old neighborhood and it looked alot like this in Wallsend. The Ship pub or something where he was meeting old friends? A white building round at the front like it might have been on a narrow "V" where two streets run into each other.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like the pub was the notorious "Ship In The Hole" pub which is situated between Swan Hunters Shipyards and Segedunum.
Google Maps
Ship in the Hole
Oops sorry to take so long to get back. Yes , that's it, I'm quite sure. A friend used to house-sit for a lute player, former stable I think had a OED condensed version, 2 vols/ read with a magnifier.
ReplyDeleteNo bother.
ReplyDeleteI'm not as old as Sting but I did visit that pub a few times back in the late 80's and it had a bit of a reputation for being rough.
HI- MY PA USED THE SHIP IN THE HOLE IN THE 50,S-HE ONCE TOOK MY MA AND SOME OTHER RELATIVES THERE ONE EVENING-MY MA NEVER SPOKE TO HIM FOR AGES AFTER-THE PUB HAD SPITOONS AND ACTUAL SAWDUST-PA SAID YOU COULD BUY ANYTHING THERE AS A LOT OF STUFF CAME OFF THE SHIPS.THERE WAS AGREAT ENGRAVED WINDOW AT THE SIDE -THE ENGRAVING WAS OF AN .EXOTIC SAILING SHIP.THE SHIP WAS ALSO FREQEUNTED BY LADIES OF THE NIGHT?regards BRIAN WALTON
ReplyDeleteHi, just an update. That pub has been demolished I believe. Now after an excavation, they have found remains of Roman Baths. There will be a lot of archeaology around there, just a shame it can never be found. I bet they would find wall in the Tyne.
ReplyDeleteAlso the wooden posts believed to be Roman barbed wire, maybe left over of a wooden wall structure. Just another theory out there. But we will never know for sure.