Britain’s Roman history
Hadrian’s Wall, also called “the Roman Wall”, is one of the UK’s most iconic historical wonders. Though no longer as tall as it originally stood, a lot of the wall is still left for you to visit today. Its construction first began in 122 CE making the ruins today nearly 2,000 years old.
In its prime, the wall once stretched about 74 miles (118 kilometres) across the length of Northern England. It was the Roman Empire’s frontier, built by Emperor Hadrian to defend them against the Celtic people of Scotland.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, Britain entered the Dark Ages and the wall was abandoned. Some parts of it were dismantled and used to build new castles. All the remaining parts of the wall are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Birdoswald Fort is particularly well-preserved and amazing to visit. Not only is it almost completely intact, but it’s also attached to the longest remaining single stretch of Hadrian’s Wall. At Birdoswald, you can discover an exhibition of Roman artefacts, as well as a turret and milecastle.
Vindolanda Fort is not on the wall itself, but it’s nearby and well worth a visit. Its remains include a 3rd-century bath house, holy temple and mausoleum. There’s also a display of Roman artefacts found by the archeologists who work here. Marvel at ancient footwear, textiles, pottery and writing tablets.
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