The Great Wall of England.... Hadrian's Wall

The Romans started building Hadrian's wall  at the order of emperor Hadrian who visited Britain in 122 AD. For nearly 300 years Hadrians Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman empire. The purpose of the wall was to separate the Romans and the barbarians.  The wall was 73 miles long stretching all across northern Britain.
Here we stand with Marcus, a living actor - fully attired in his Roman uniforn with steel, leather, and linin layers.  The steel armour fitting was custom designed for every soldier from a Roman factory in Gaul, France.

Ruins for Chesters (CILURNUM) Roman Fort along the frontier wall. Forts provided housing and logistical support for the guards and calvary that protected the northern frontier. The forts were excavated in the 1840's- wonderful artifacts were uncovered and placed in museums which we visited. There are on display hundreds of stone pieces with Roman writing on alters, inscriptions to their gods, army orders, family letters, household and personal items. This is one of the ruins of the gate towers which served to control entry into the fort.

Artist rendion of the fort headquarters building showing courtyard and colonnade evidencing the grandeur of the Roman civilization even at the outposts.

It was pouring down rain as we toured.  We are standing in front of the soldiers barracks.  There were 8-10 rooms for soldiers in each buiding. It is believed 8 men occupied each double room. 
This fort was built at a river crossing to control the flow of people and collect taxes.

We walked on the wall at Housesteads (Vercomicium) Roman Fort until we came to this barrier. The wall continues over the hills to the west as far as the eye can see. 

The construction of Hadrian's Wall was a major feat of engineering. Soldiers from all three legions of Britain came north to build it. It took the army over a decade to buld the wall. The wall remained the the north-west frontier from 160-250 AD.