Mirror Image, 41 Windsor Terrace, South Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1YL
Telephone: (0191) 2851202 E-mail: mirrorimage@northumbria.info

[Home | Architecture | Bridges | Castles | Churches | Sculpture | Where is it?]

Hadrian's Wall conjures a dramatic image of Britain divided by conflict and occupation as Rome sets the bounds on its empire. Stretched across the narrow neck of the country, the Wall weaves a thread of history into the fabric of the hills. In places the ruins are stark and inspiring while in others they have mellowed into the landscape. Some parts have been plundered for building stone so nothing remains. Hadrian was the first to build a wall, eighty miles long, to seperate the Romans from the barbarians. He came to Britain in AD 122 to see it started, and brought over his friend Platorius Nepos as governor to take charge of the construction. The actual building would be done by the legions, the elite citizen soldiers, II Augusta, VI Victrix and XX Valeria Victrix. While the Wall was being built, and Nepos was still governor, it was decided to build forts on the line of the Wall itself at regular intervals, projecting to the North and so simplifying the task of deploying troops north of the Wall. The Wall was a barrier, it would not stop an army or determined individuals crossing on foot, but it would stop mounted men and control the movement of carts and beasts, making border raiding unprofitable. Approximately 5 miles of Hadrian's Wall from Housesteads Fort to Cawfields Quarry is National Trust property. Housesteads Fort is maintained and managed by English Heritage. Location: Bowness-on-Solway to the West through to Wallsend on the banks of the River Tyne to the East. Hadrian's Wall is, in many parts, remote from public transport routes and most easily visited by car.

A Visitors Book is available if you would like to make any comments or requests.

The following pages were designed by MIRROR IMAGE. All photographs taken by Ray Urwin©.
For more information please contact mirrorimage@northumbria.info