Hadrian's Wall: Greatest Monument from the Roman Occupation of Britain

If planning a trip to England in the near future, may I suggest getting out of London and exploring further afield?

One of the most important monuments built by the Romans in Britain is Hadrians Wall, and it is well-worth a trip.

Hadrians wall is the best-known frontier in the entire Roman Empire and stands today as a reminder of the past glories of one of the world's greatest empires. Approximately 1850 years ago the Roman Empire covered much of the then known world. It stretched from north Britain eastwards to present day Iraq and southwards to the Sahara desert. For 300 years Hadrian's Wall was the north-west frontier of the empire.

In the 120's the Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of the wall. The completed wall ran 80 Roman miles (73 modern miles or 117km) from Wallsend on the river Tyne to Bowness on the Solway Firth and was built of stone throughout its length. The barrier was not an impenetrable barrier, for at mile intervals there were gates, each defended by a small guard post, known today as milecastles. Two towers (turrets) were placed between each pair of milecastles, for observation and it is possible that there was a tower over the north gate of each milecastle, ensuring an unbroken pattern. In front of the length of the wall is a ditch that was separated from the wall by a strip of ground 20 feet wide.

Hadrian's wall had two separate elements. One was the barrier itself along with the milecastles and turrets and the other was represented by the forts. The function of the barrier was to separate the Roman's and the barbarians (as the Roman's called the people beyond their boundaries). It was almost a frontier control and the 'barbarians' could only enter the empire unarmed proceeding under military escort to specified markets, where fees were payable.

The Wall was abandoned within months of Hadrian's death in July 138 and we know little of life on Hadrian's Wall during the centuries following the abandonment.