Name: Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Address: Chollerford, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4EU
Telephone: 01434 681379

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Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall

Chesters Roman fort will open on 29 March for local visits. Takeaway catering will be available but indoor areas will remain closed, and safety measures will be in place to keep everyone safe. You’ll also need to book your visit in advance. Find out more below.

How to book your visit

Read our FAQs

Keeping you safe

What to expect on your visit

See full prices and opening times

Address

Chollerford, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4EU

Book Your Visit

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

Do we need to Book?

Advance booking is now essential. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

Book Tickets

Booking FAQs

What parts of the site are open?
Site and grounds - All outdoor spaces are open as usual.

Museum - The museum remains closed to aid social distancing.

Café - Take away food and drink will be available. Card payments preffered.

Shop - The shop will be closed until 12 April.

What changes have you made to your facilities?
Toilets - Our toilets are open as usual.

Plan your Visit

Keeping you Safe

We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

General Safety Information

Do I need to wear a face covering?

Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

I still have questions.

The answers to all frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page.

Read our FAQs

Things to See and Do

Timeline

124Hadrian's Wall Fort

A turret on the Wall is demolished to make way for Chesters fort, one of 15 built along Hadrian's Wall.

124-40Early Roman Residents

A 500-man cavalry unit, the 'ala Augusta ob virtutem appellata', is stationed at the fort.

Find out more about the history of Chesters Roman Fort

138Break from Cavalry

The 1st cohort of Dalmatians, an infantry unit, carries out building works. For the first time in its history, Chesters may have temporarily ceased to be a cavalry fort.

178Back in Business

The Second Asturians ('ala II Asturum'), a cavalry unit from northern Spain, settle here and completely rebuild the barracks.

Read a description of Chesters Roman Fort

180-250Civilian Settlements

Outside the fort walls, civilian settlements (vici) grow and prosper.

4th CenturyInherited Duties

The Chesters unit adopts compulsory hereditary service and soldiers are mainly paid in kind. The outer settlements are probably abandoned.

Early 5th CenturyRemaining Cavalry

The Second Asturians remain at Chesters, increasingly cut off from the weakening Roman Empire.

675Stripped for Parts

Saxon builders dismantle the remains of the Roman bridge, using the stone for a church at Hexham.

Find out more about the Roman bridge at Chesters

1796Buried Ruins

Nathaniel Clayton buys the estate, levelling the ruins and grassing them over to form a park.

1832John Clayton's Reign

Nathaniel's son John Clayton, a lawyer and Roman enthusiast, inherits the property.

1843-90Extensive Excavations

Clayton devotes every Monday to excavations. Chief workmen are William Tailford and his son, who spends 45 years excavating Chesters.

1890-5Continuing Legacy

After John Clayton's death, his son Nathaniel takes over the excavations and builds a museum to house his father's Roman finds.

See highlights of the collection at Chesters

1946State Ownership

The eastern bridge abutment, fort, wall and baths to the east are taken over by the Ministry of Works.

1982-91Modern Research

Excavation and surveys take place on the eastern and western bridge abutments, the only large-scale work of this type completed after the Claytons.

Learn more about the history of Chesters Roman Fort

Nearby Places
Similar Places

Chesters Bridge Abutment - Hadrian's Wall
0.28 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Brunton Turret - Hadrian's Wall
0.7 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall
1.11 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall

Chesters Bridge Abutment - Hadrian's Wall
0.28 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Brunton Turret - Hadrian's Wall
0.7 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall
1.11 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall

Nearby Places
- Chesters Bridge Abutment - Hadrian's Wall
  0.28 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
- Brunton Turret - Hadrian's Wall
  0.7 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
- Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall
  1.11 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
Similar Places
- Chesters Bridge Abutment - Hadrian's Wall
  0.28 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
- Brunton Turret - Hadrian's Wall
  0.7 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall
- Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall
  1.11 miles from Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall

Gallery for Chesters Roman Fort and Museum - Hadrian's Wall

English Heritage

How to book your visit

Keeping you safe

What you need to know