The Wall was built from the Solway Firth to Wallsend, but there is more. There were forts south of the Wall on the Cumbrian coast extending nearly 50 miles south. Initially the wall was supplied from the Stanegate, effectively the frontier prior to the Wall. South Shields was the fort/port for the Eastern wall.

Built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian in AD122, it extends 73 miles across Northern England and is the largest stone monument the Roman’s ever built in its Empire

Originally the Wall (built in stone) was to be 3 meters wide, with a gate to the north, from a milecastle every roman mile (0.9 miles). Between every milecastle there were 2 turrets with an entrance from the south. This would extend for 45 miles from Newcastle to the River Irthing. From there to Bowness on Solway there would be turf rampart 6 meters wide 31 miles long.

Before it was completed there were four major changes:

1. The Wall was reduced in width from 3m to 2.4m; this change was made from Planetrees at the top of the hill east of Chollerford.
2. The wall was extended to the east from Newcastle to Wallsend
3. A deep ditch was dug south of the wall, known as the Vallum.
4. Forts were incorporated into the wall at about 7.3 mile intervals.

A Brief History of the Wall click to open

The Purpose of the Wall    click to open

The Building of the Wall     click to open

SYCAMORE GAP TO WINDSHIELD

The Roman Army in Britain