Hadrian’s Wall By Emily Curry

Introduction Hadrian’s Wall is an ancient Roman fortification in Northern England. It was the most fortified border in the Roman empire. It was the first of two walls built across Britain. It is located in present day Northumberland.

Hadrian’s wall

Roman Frontiers and Fortifications As the Roman empire expanded, it reached its limits of growth. At these limits, the empire constructed fortifications to keep out the “barbarians” who resided on the other side. Hadrian’s Wall was one such fortification.

Physical Features of Hadrian’s Wall Hadrian’s wall is made of stone, turf and timber. It was 73.5 miles (80 Roman miles, or 117 kilometers) long. Its height and width vary along its length, due to the use of different building materials.

Dimension Variations East of River Irthing, where stone was the primary building material, the wall was almost 10 feet (3 meters) wide and close to 20 feet (6 meters) tall. To the west of the river, where turf was used, the wall measured up to 20 feet (6 meters) wide and 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) high.

More Dimension Variations The central section of the wall was 7.8 feet (8 Roman feet, or 2.4 meters) wide, resting on a 10-foot (3 meters) foundation. Some parts of the central section remain up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall.

Construction of Hadrian’s Wall The construction of Hadrian’s Wall began following a visit from the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the year 122 AD. The wall was built as a military fortification, a way to control population flow, and as a symbol of Roman power in Britain. The wall was, for the most part, completed within six years.

Construction Movement Construction of the wall began in the east and continued west. Construction was carried out by soldiers from all three of the occupying Roman legions. The route of the wall mostly followed that of the nearby Stanegate road from Luguvalium (modern-day Carlisle) to Coria (modern Corbridge).

Initial Plans The original plans included a ditch and wall with 80 gated milecastle fortlets, one situated every roman mile, each housing a few dozen troops. Also included in the initial plans were evenly spaced turrets between the milecastles, used for signaling and observation.

Plan Alteration Despite the plans, few of the milecastles are actually placed at exact Roman mile measurements, thanks to landscape features or opportunities for better signaling to Stanegate forts farther south.

Construction Materials Nearby limestone was used in almost all of the construction, with the exception of the area west of Irthing, where, due to the lack of limestone sources nearby, turf was used instead. Milecastles in the section west of Irthing were built of wood and earth instead of stone. All turrets were made entirely of stone, no matter which region.

The Antonine Wall The Antonine Wall was the second fortification the Romans built in Britain. Antoninus Pius, who became emperor after emperor Hadrian’s death, almost entirely abandoned Hadrian’s Wall, began construction on the Antonine Wall, located about 160 kilometers north of Hadrian’s wall. Little remains of the Antonine Wall today.

Recent Fame In 1987, Hadrian's Wall was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It became a “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” World Heritage Site in Hadrian’s Wall Path, a trail which follows the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, was opened in 2003.

Works cited "Hadrian's Wall." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 3 Jan "Hadrian's Wall and the Roman Sites." Hadrian's Wall Country. Web. 3 Jan