Works Save Half a Mile of Hadrian's Wall

£250,000 Environmental Stewardship Project Protects Ancient Roman Wall and Surrounding Wildlife.

Hadrians Wall Conservation work which removes a section of Hadrian’s Wall from English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register, has now been completed. Funding from Natural England, which has worked in partnership with English Heritage, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage, the Northumberland National Park and the owner of the site, has helped to secure the future of both an important section of Hadrian's Wall, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), stretching for half a mile westwards from great Chesters Farm near Haltwhistle in Northumberland.
Environmental Stewardship is a Government-funded scheme, managed by Natural England. The Scheme funds the delivery of environmental benefits through agriculture and aims to conserve wildlife, maintain and enhance our landscape quality and character, protect our natural resources, and promote public access to the countryside.  The owner of the site, Mr William Woodman, entered into a Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Natural England when the scheme was launched in 2005. The aims of this 10 year agreement were to assist in the management of the large number of scheduled monuments on the holding, and to improve the condition of the Allolee - Walltown SSSI.

The project, which started in April 2008 has cost over £250,000 and included urgent restoration work to Hadrian’s Wall to protect the Roman remains from wandering farm animals and the harsh effects of the weather. Work involved rebuilding a dry stone wall that was built on top of and alongside parts of the ancient monument in the1890s to enclose animals in the adjacent fields. The collapse of this wall over the years had left the fragile core of the Roman remains unprotected.

Rob Aubrook and Carol Pyrah at the wall Rob Aubrook, Natural England Regional Director for North East England said:
"Natural England is delighted that, thanks to this excellent partnership project, people walking the Hadrian's Wall Trail can now see a unique combination of ancient Roman construction and historic 19th century dry stone walling, restored by the skills of modern masons.

"As well as protecting the precious Roman remains at Great Chesters, the restoration of the dry stone wall will improve conditions for the unusual wild flowers that grow in the fields alongside this stretch of Hadrian’s Wall.

"This kind of partnership working is vital if we are to successfully protect and enhance the natural and historic environment of North East England and we are grateful to English Heritage, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage and the Northumberland National Park Authority for their help and support for the work at Great Chesters."

Nestled alongside this outstanding section of the 2000-year-old roman wall, lies the Whin Grasslands, designated as a SSSI and home to a number of rare plants including wild chives and rockrose.

Carol Pyrah, English Heritage Planning and Development Director for the North East added: "This section of Hadrian’s Wall is a fantastic survival from our Roman past, and one which allows us to see the detail of the original Roman construction work on the Wall, parts of which have often been lost during early consolidation work elsewhere.  Its condition has long been of concern, leading to its inclusion on our Heritage at Risk Register. We are delighted to have worked with Natural England, the owner and their contractors to complete these repairs and remove the site from the Register."