Hadrian's Wall NMP - Solway Plain

 The first block of mapping completed for this project covers the area from Bowness-on-Solway to Carlisle. The landscape is low lying with extensive peat bogs and salt marshes; low hills have attracted settlement from early times. Apart from a few stretches of the Vallum there is little to see of the Roman frontier works for visitors on the ground. However, aerial photographs show prehistoric settlements, medieval field systems and evidence of more recent defensive activity.  Several Second World War features have been mapped. Aircraft obstructions were constructed along large parts of the coast and rivers and other areas of open ground to stop enemy planes landing. This photograph from 1946 shows lines of obstructions on open ground near the River Eden, just east of Carlisle.

Just south of Burgh Marsh a Second World War firing range was identified on aerial photographs; a field visit revealed dismantled numbered targets nearby.

Bowness-on-Solway marks the western end of Hadrian's Wall, although there are further Roman defences continuing down the Cumbrian Coast. The earthwork bank in the small field behind the church is the agger of the Roman road running south from the fort at Bowness-on-Solway. First recognised in 1930, this feature has been somewhat dismissed since then, but this recent photograph has lead to a re-evaluation of its significance as part of the Roman communication network.

Air photos have revealed a lot of evidence for the native settlements both north and south of the Wall. This extract from the NMP mapping shows a probable Iron Age enclosed settlement with a series of defensive ditches. It occupies a high point on the northern bank of the River Eden and has an entrance to the south-west leading down to the river. Most sites in this area have been levelled by ploughing and are only visible as cropmarks in dry summers.

The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the NMR English Heritage's public archive.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.