Hadrian`s Wall Gallery

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Hadrians Wall Gallery

• Izabela Mrochen

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Hadrian's Wall Gallery Hadrian's Wall was a Roman
frontier built in the years AD 122-30 by order of
the Emperor Hadrian. It was 73 miles long and ran
from Wallsend-on-Tyne in the east to Bowness on
the Solway Firth in the west.
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Hadrian's rule has been described as a period of
consolidation, a time in which to restore order
in disaffected areas of the Roman Empire, in
Germany as well as in Britain. The Wall was not
designed to prevent movement, but rather to
control it, as can be seen in the numerous
gateways or milecastles which, as their names
suggests, were placed at regular mile intervals
along the length of the Wall. Although the Wall
had a military function, and enabled watching and
patrolling, over time it attracted wider
settlement and trade to its forts and garrisons.
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Hadrian's Wall makes use of locally-available
materials. Running for forty-five miles from the
east, the Wall was built of stone. The stone wall
had two outer faces of dressed stone, containing
a centre of rubble. The remaining thirty-one
miles of the Wall in the west was built of turf.
The turf wall, constructed from turf blocks, was
built either from the prepared ground or upon a
bed of cobbles.
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Detail of the Wall showing the rubble and mortar
used to fill the centre. The Wall was built from
locally-quarried stone Roman stone-masons have
left inscriptions in the stones which describe
the location of these quarries.
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The photo above shows a wooden reconstruction of
the wall and gatehouse at Vindolanda. The fort
and the surrounding settlement lies to the south
of Hadrian's Wall. Over the summer months there
are excavations on site, which have uncovered a
number of Roman documents and artefacts,
including Roman boots, shoes, armour, jewellery
and coins. The site is known for its rare ink on
wood documents and letters - which provide a
fascinating insight into Roman life on this
northerly frontier nearly two thousand years ago.
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The Praetorium was the official residence of the
Roman governors stationed at Vindolanda. Sixteen
forts were built on or near the Wall each was
different, with no standard interior plan.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the forts
were built after the Wall had been laid out and
constructed. The forts were designed to house the
soldiers that patrolled the Wall, although
historians disagree about the numbers who were
stationed there.
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The Romans worshipped many gods, however the
Roman army seems to have been open to a number of
cults which became popular from the second
century. On Hadrian's Wall there were several
native cults Coventina, Antenociticus,
Belatucadrus, Cocidius and Vitiris.
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The photo above shows the main street at
Vindolanda, with a bath house in the foreground.
Life must often have been difficult and
uncomfortable for the Roman soldiers, but the
forts did provide for the spiritual and physical
well-being of their inhabitants, with temples,
granaries, hospitals, and latrines. In addition,
many of the forts along the length of Wall
attracted settlement and some local trade.
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The photo above shows detail of the raised floor
in the bath house at Vindolanda. In 1973 1,500
ink tablets were found at Vindolanda, the total
has risen to almost two thousand. The fragments
provide a fascinating insight to life on the
Wall 'I have sent you...pairs of socks, two
pairs of sandals and two pairs of
underpants.' '...you ought to decide, my lord,
what quantity of wagons you are going to send to
carry stone...I ask you to write back what you
want me to do. I pray that you are in good
health.'
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In approximately AD 92, Vindolanda was rebuilt
nearly doubling in size, perhaps in preparation
for the start of the construction of Hadrian's
Wall in AD 122. Towards the end of the second
century and into the third century there was
further expansion with a number of shops,
workshops and domestic buildings added to the
fort and settlement.
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Housesteads Roman Fort - showing north gate,
which leads to Hadrian's Wall. Housesteads is one
the best preserved forts in the country.
Housesteads is located on a high ridge and covers
an area of five acres. Within its walls are a
number of buildings including the fort's
headquarters and commander's house, granaries,
barracks, a hospital, and latrines.
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During the fourth century, the Wall's function as
a barrier declined as Roman power waned. Bede
writes about the Wall in the seventh century as
being eight feet (2.4 m) wide and twelve feet
(3.6 m) high. The Wall was undoubtedly a handy
source of stone for a number of new buildings,
including new monasteries at Jarrow,
Monkwearmouth and Lindisfarne.
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Sources
http//www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/hadria
n_gallery_12.shtml