Hadrian's Wall

The fortification line stretches 73 miles (117 kilometers) across northern England from the North Sea to the Irish Sea, incorporating numerous forts and watchtowers. The stone barrier originally reached about 15 feet (4.5 meters) in height and 10 feet (3 meters) in width. A ditch ran parallel to the north side, while a vallum with two earthwork banks marked the military zone to the south.

Emperor Hadrian ordered construction of this defensive barrier in 122 CE to establish the northern frontier of Roman Britain. Building took approximately six years, involving three legions. In 142 CE, Emperor Antoninus Pius moved the frontier north to the Antonine Wall in Scotland, but the Hadrianic fortification was reactivated after 160 CE and remained garrisoned until the early fifth century.

The structure functioned as a customs frontier between Roman territory and northern tribes, with gates controlling trade and movement of people. After Roman withdrawal in the fifth century, local residents quarried stones for building houses and churches. The fortification shaped regional identity and inspired writers and artists for centuries.

The National Trail follows the complete length of the fortification, crossing through Northumberland National Park and rural English countryside. The best-preserved sections lie between Chollerford and Birdoswald. Several museums along the route display artifacts and offer interpretation centers. Public transport connects major sites during summer months, though a car proves more practical for remote sections.

The Vindolanda fort near the fortification preserves wooden writing tablets with Latin text, including personal letters and military documents from Roman soldiers. One tablet contains the oldest handwritten reference to London, while another shows a birthday invitation from one officer's wife to another. The oxygen-poor soil conserved organic material that typically decays at Roman sites.

Location: Northumberland

Location: Cumbria

Inception: 122

Creator: Hadrian

Height: 6 m

Width: 6 m

Part of: Limes Britannicus, borders of the Roman Empire

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall

GPS coordinates: 55.02417,-2.29250

Latest update: November 27, 2025 19:19