Ancient site · Earthwork
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was begun in 122 CE on the orders of Emperor Hadrian. It ran about 117 kilometres across northern England, from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth, marking the northern frontier of Roman Britain.
Soldiers lived in large forts, smaller milecastles and turrets along it, and its gates may have been customs posts; when fully manned, it may have held almost 10,000 troops. Roman rule in Britain ended around 410 CE, though some forts stayed in use into the 5th century.
- Dates
- begun 122 CE; Roman rule ended c. 410 CE
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 55.02° N, 2.28° W
How we know
Roman inscriptions, writing tablets and histories record the wall and its soldiers.
Nearby sites
- Star Carr c. 9300–8500 BCE
- Newgrange built c. 3100 BCE; out of use by the Bronze Age
- Stonehenge c. 3100–1600 BCE (sarsen circle c. 2600–2400 BCE)
- Ness of Brodgar c. 3500–2200 BCE
- Skara Brae c. 3180–2500 BCE
- Cairn of Barnenez built c. 4850–4000 BCE; reused in the 3rd millennium BCE