Hadrian’s Wall Guide to the Visible Remains
Wallsend to Heddon on the Wall covers the visible remains for the first 12 miles.
The Wall starts from Wallsend in the East at Segedunum. You may be surprised to know that the Hadrian’s Wall Path only links up with the line of the Wall at Heddon 12 miles west of Wallsend along the Wall line. This guide will tell you what you will miss.
The guide to Segedunum Roman Fort can be found here. Until 30 years ago the fort was buried under a housing estate for 150 years and is probably the most excavated Roman fort in Britain
Newcastle Roman Fort (Pons Aelvs)
Four miles east of Wallsend, through the streets of Newcastle is the site of the Roman fort. It is easily found as the Norman castle was built close to its eastern wall. The guide can be found here. The fort was on high ground north of the Tyne. The fort was a few yards south of the Wall, probably to guard the bridge. It was built about 80 years after the rest of the Wall finished
Benwell Roman Fort
Two miles west of the fort, on a small hill. some distance from the Tyne is the cavalry fort of Benwell. Newcastle’s West road cuts through the northern sector of the fort, of which nothing has survived above ground. Read the guide. But the fort had a Vicus with 2 unusual remains
Benwell Vallum Crossing
The Vallum a large ditch behind to Wall was completed in the 130’s, the Wall could now be crossed only at the 16 Wall Forts, with a stone bridge and gate. This is the only one identified with remains; the Wall was abandoned about 138AD with the invasion of Scotland. With the return to the Wall 20 years ago, the concept of the Vallum and its containment area was also abandoned. It is located south of the fort in the vicus, now in Denhill Park. See the map above.
Temple of Antenociticus
East of the fort in the Vicus is the Temple of Antenociticus in Broomridge Ave see above. Antenociticus a Romano Celtic god (in effect a Celtic god adopted by the Romans) and unique to Benwell. It was a rectangle building 16ft by 10ft with an apse, where the statue was found.
Turret 7b Denton Burn and Broad Walls
Back on to the West Road, down the hill, cross the roundabout immediate right and immediately right to the turret and a length of board wall. It was 14ft by 13th with 3 ft. walls and a 31/2 ft. entrance, with an original floor with a foot of clay, the entrance raised 2 ft. for later floors
Back to the West Road, over A1M on to the A69 first left and first left again. West Denton Wall is a length of board wall with surface stones removed
Heddon Broad Wall
Back to the West Road, over A1M on to the A69 first left and first left again. West Denton Wall is a length of board wall with surface stones removed. Back on to the A69, let soon on to A6825 to Throckerly on to Heddon. After about a mile and a half, you start the climb to Heddon, on your left is the best preserved section of the Broad Wall, which is covered in the next guide
After you leave the site you join the Hadrian’s Wall path, for the next seventy miles along the Wall. It would be more fun to do this section in the car unless you like walking city streets