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 is now open for you to visit. You now need to book your timed tickets in advance. 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. There are other new steps in place to ensure everyone’s safety, so your visit will be a little different.

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

Welcome to Chesters roman fort

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. To book your visit, click the button below.

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.

Please click here for more information about the safety measures you can expect when visiting as well as our FAQs.

Site and grounds - All outdoor spaces are open as usual.
Museum - The museum is open as normal (from 10.30am) with minor restrictions due to social distancing guidelines.
Café - Take away food and drink will be available. Card payments preffered.
Shop - The shop will be open.
Toilets - Our toilets are open as usual.
Face coverings - Face coverings must be worn in Chester's indoor shop, café and all other indoor spaces. We won't be able to give you a face covering so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

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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
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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

Welcome to Chesters roman fort