Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall is a Roman frontier fortification in northern England built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian beginning in AD 122.

Hadrian's Wall is a Roman frontier fortification in northern England built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian beginning in AD 122. It stretched about 73 miles (80 Roman miles) from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

Construction began in AD 122 during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, following his visit to Britain. The wall was built by the Roman army and marked the Roman Empire's north-west frontier in Britain. It remained in use for nearly 300 years before being abandoned in the early 5th century.

Route and construction

Hadrian's Wall extended about 73 miles from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. In its final form it was mainly stone, and the frontier system also included forts, milecastles, turrets, roads, and a ditch. The wall ran coast to coast across northern Britain.

Purpose

The wall functioned as a military frontier and defensive system for Roman Britain. Modern historians also describe it as a controlled border zone that organised movement, trade, and military administration.

Heritage and preservation

Hadrian's Wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Although much of it was later quarried or lost, substantial remains survive today and are protected as a major historic landscape. A long-distance walking path follows much of its route.