Construction of the Wall

Over 1,850 years ago the Roman Empire stretched from Britain to Iraq. The Wall was built by the order of the Emperor Hadrian in AD 122, to separate the Romans from the Barbarians. It covered 80 Roman miles (73 modern miles, 117 km) from Wallsend-on-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway and marked the northern extent of the Roman Empire. A road, now known as the Stanegate, already existed in the northern territories, running between the forts at Corbridge and Carlisle. Hadrian's Wall followed a similar line but also used natural features such as the Whin Sill crags and the Solway coast.

 

 

 

 

 

Work started in the east with a stone wall, whilst further west the Wall was initially built of turf blocks but was later rebuilt in stone. To begin with the stone wall was built 10 Roman feet wide, but parts which were built later, were only 8 Roman feet wide.

 To the south of the Wall was a road, the Military Way, and another ditch, flanked by banks called the Vallum. The Vallum was built after the Wall and was an earthwork construction running the length of the frontier from the Tyne to the Solway. It was generally built 50 to 90 metres behind the Wall and defined the rear of the military zone, controlling movement of people into the military area.

The wall was further strengthened and manned from a series of turrets, milecastles and forts.

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