The sites of Milecastles are indicated on the following pages with this picture. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Click for information about milecastles

This is a work in progress

The Forts on the Google map are as seen on this site click to visit. Click to Refresh map

To go to selected length of the Wall click the milecastle numbers in the right hand table

This first plan provided for a wall 10ft wide, 15ft 6 inches high and surmounted by a 6ft crenellation. to the north of this was a 20 ft berm, a standard fighting ditch 30ft by 13ft 6 inches, and a glacis composed of the spoil of the ditch, approximately 60ft in width.

At each Roman mile was a milecastle with a north gate opening through the Wall, surmounted by a defensive turret and a south gate. In the original plan there were two barracks and the milecastle maintained a turret on either hand for the patrol garrison.

South of the wall was the Vallum, a complex consisting of a 20 ft ditch with a wide bottom section and mounds composed of spoil to north and south. The wall was built to the design width only on the eastern slope. The Milecastles built before the change of plan had 10ft wings on either side. The curtain wall as finally built was substantially narrower and the join is indicated in the diagram.

This information and the diagram taken from Richard Devine The Northwest Frontier of the Roman Empire Chap2 pg 27

northofthetyne.co.uk

Castles and Walks in Northumberland

Information about the Roman Wall

Hadrian's Wall is a World Heritage Site with a length of 80 Roman Miles (73.5 Standard miles) ran from SEGEDUNUM (Wallsend on Tyne) to MIAI (Bowness on Solway).

The Vallum lies to the south of the Wall and was the line deliniating the extent of the Roman Empire The purpose of the wall was to defend the line.*1

The ditch was employed throughout the length of the wall except where terrain made it unnecessary or impractical.

Some forts were amended on Hadrian's instructions to extend northward their gates giving easier access for a swift cavalry deployment.

The Stone Wall was constructed for 23 miles but it was not long before it was decided to amend the width to 8ft and in some places 6ft, this most notably to be seen at Brunton turret 26b.

This stone wall was not continued beyond the River Irthing (beyond Gilsland) and in its place a Turf wall was substituted the Forts and turrets being constructed of wood. Some of these were replaced with stone a few years later.

*1 Richard Devine The Northwest Frontier of the Roman Empire. Chap 9 Pg. 147

*2 Horsley

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northofthetyne.co.uk

Castles and Walks in Northumberland

There are countless books, histories and many websites relating to the Wall built by the Romans between Wallsend on the River Tyne and Bowness on the Solway in the second century AD. My intention is to photograph the line of the Wall and of the Vallum and Defensive Ditch as they can be found today with photographs throughout its length.

Starting at SEGEDUNUM and travelling west through the streets of Wallsend, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle to the Fort MAIA at Bowness on Solway in Cumbria.there will be a page for each stretch. Should it be practical the forts, and not all of them are on the Wall, I will cover separately.

Work Commencing 11/11/2008

Chesters to Carrawbrugh ( Page VII) completed this is a work in progress June 2010 NBM

Roman Mile = 1620 yards = 0.92Mile = 1.48km

The information offered on this site owes a considerable debt to that gleaned from "The Roman Wall - Comprehensive History and Guide" by Frank Graham and published by him in 1979 and by other works shown as references on each page