View across the Solway from Bowness-on-Solway. Cumbria Photo Hadrian’s Wall Country boasts a spectacular ROMANS IN CUMBRIA coastline, stunning rolling countryside, vibrant cities and towns and a wealth of Roman forts, HADRIAN’S WALL AND THE museums and visitor attractions. COASTAL DEFENCES The sites detailed in this booklet are open to the public and are a great way to explore Hadrian’s Wall and the coastal frontier in Cumbria, and to learn how the arrival of the Romans changed life in this part of the Empire forever. Many sites are accessible by public transport, cycleways and footpaths making it the perfect place for an eco-tourism break. For places to stay, downloadable walks and cycle routes, or to find food fit for an Emperor go to: www.visithadrianswall.co.uk If you have enjoyed your visit to Hadrian’s Wall Country and want further information or would like to contribute towards the upkeep of this spectacular landscape, you can make a donation or become a ‘Friend of Hadrian’s Wall’. Go to www.visithadrianswall.co.uk for more information or text WALL22 £2/£5/£10 to 70070 e.g. WALL22 £5 to make a one-off donation. Published with support from DEFRA and RDPE. Information correct at time Produced by Anna Gray (www.annagray.co.uk) of going to press (2013). Designed by Andrew Lathwell (www.lathwell.com) The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in Rural Areas visithadrianswall.co.uk Hadrian’s Wall and the Coastal Defences Hadrian’s Wall is the most important Emperor in AD 117. Evidence suggests he structure built by the Romans in Britain. It inspected work on the Wall in AD 122. was constructed on the orders of Emperor Hadrian to mark the northwest limit of The Wall extended across the narrowest part the Roman Empire and to control the of the country − from Bowness-on-Solway in passage of people and goods across the west to Wallsend in the east – a the border. distance of 80 Roman miles or 73 modern miles (117 km). From In the AD 70s, well the River Irthing to before Hadrian built his Bowness, the Wall was famous Wall, the initially constructed of Roman army advanced turf and, along with the into northern Britain. coastal defences, may The first forts along have been the first part the Cumbrian coast of the frontier to be built were probably in response to threats from established at this time to native tribes. Hadrian’s Wall and the defences along the protect a chain of harbours that supplied the army. Left: Coin of Emperor Hadrian Cumbrian coast are part of the ‘Frontiers of Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne the Roman Empire’ World Heritage Site. The By the AD 80s the Romans controlled The military structures were highly physical evidence represents the legacy of one much of what is now Scotland but had to organised. Major forts were located 8.2 of the greatest and most influential Empires transfer troops to deal with problems Roman miles (11.5 km) apart. Between these along the Danube River. The army fell back were smaller fortlets (milecastles), one the world has ever seen and the remains to the isthmus between the Tyne and the Roman mile apart, with two small turrets or are among the finest and best preserved Solway and constructed a line of forts lookout stations between every milecastle. anywhere in the world. along a military road – the Stanegate. Communications were relayed using Hadrian’s decision to build the Wall was beacons and semaphore signals. The The ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire’ World part of his policy of consolidating the cross-section drawing below reveals further Heritage Site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2005 Empire’s frontiers after he became defensive structures including the Vallum. and includes Hadrian’s Wall, the German Limes and the Antonine Wall in Scotland. NORTH SOUTH Above: Section of Hadrian’s Wall near Birdoswald. Hadrian’s Military English Heritage/Robert Smith Wall Road Vallum Cover image: Swarthy Hill milefortlet 21. Andrew Heptinstall Above: Cross-section through Hadrian’s Wall, based on an original illustration by English Heritage. Juliet Whitworth 1 As the coast was vulnerable to sea-borne of the Empire. As well as the military 1. Birdoswald (Banna) attack, the defences extended southwards presence, each of the major forts attracted (GR. NY615663) to Ravenglass. The coastal fortifications a civilian settlement that sprawled out from were not linked by a wall but consisted of one or more of the main gateways. One of the best preserved forts along separate forts, milefortlets and turrets Hadrian’s Wall. The partially excavated site clearly shows the outlines of the following the same defensive pattern as Hadrian’s Wall was abandoned when the fort, its gated entrances and internal new Emperor, Antoninus Pius, ordered an on the Wall, with a road linking them granaries. The east gate is one of the best together. The fort and port at Ravenglass advance into Scotland and the construction preserved on the Wall, with was connected by road to forts at of a new frontier made of turf, between a particularly fine section Hardknott (Mediobogdum) and Ambleside the Firth of Forth and Firth of Clyde – the of Hadrian’s Wall nearby (Galava). Antonine Wall. A generation later the army (easily accessible from the had returned to the line of Hadrian’s Wall. car park). West of the Following a major campaign north of the fort a section of the turf Above: Birdoswald Roman Fort wall is clearly visible, Andrew Heptinstall Wall under Emperor Severus, the whilst a magnificent Regiments from Dacia (modern Romania) northwest frontier was peaceful view over the Irthing and Thracia (modern Bulgaria) were based compared with other parts of the Gorge can be at Birdoswald in the early 3rd century AD. Empire for much of the third and early gained by walking By the 5th century, the north granary Above: Running dog brooch had become the site of a large timber inlaid with blue enamel fourth centuries. up the hill from Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust, Carlisle the south gate. building, probably a hall, suggesting the How long the coastal system remained in Troubles began again in the fourth century continued use of the fort site as a base for a local warlord. use is uncertain. Many smaller structures as the Empire faced increasing instability on Left: Statue of Fortuna found in the commandant’s seem to have been abandoned shortly all frontiers. Centralised administration of house at Birdoswald Small visitor centre, gift shop and Juliet Whitworth after being built, but the main forts and Britain from Rome ended around AD 400. tearoom. Admission charge. www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/ some milefortlets were in use for much Evidence suggests many of the forts along birdoswald longer probably because of their Hadrian’s Wall were occupied into the fifth importance in supplying the frontier by sea. and sixth centuries possibly providing the power base for local warlords seeking The garrison included regiments of control and security in the absence of auxiliary soldiers recruited from different centralised power. Over time Hadrian’s Wall parts of the Empire. Along with merchants and the coastal defences fell into disuse, and traders who arranged supplies for the with the stones re-used in other buildings. army, the northwest would have been a Below: Willowford Bridge multicultural area reflecting the diversity Roger Clegg 2 Above: Reconstruction of Birdoswald Roman Fort www.visithadrianswall.co.uk 3 English Heritage 2. Banks East Turret and 4. Carlisle (Luguvalium) Pike Hill Signal Tower (GR. NY396561) (GR. NY574647) The Roman fort of Luguvalium (‘fort The excavated foundations of this turret of Lugh’) at Carlisle was established in and a stretch of Roman wall are among AD 72 on a site between the castle and the first tangible remains of Hadrian’s Wall Tullie House Museum. It became the in Cumbria (if travelling west to east). To focus for a thriving civitas, complete the south, the line of the Vallum can be with forum, temples and baths. made out. A short walk away is Pike Hill Following the decline of centralised signal tower. This watchtower pre-dates Roman rule in Britain, Luguvalium Hadrian’s Wall but was incorporated into continued as an administrative centre, Above: Bewcastle Church with the Anglo-Saxon cross to the right. it as the Wall was being built – hence Anna Gray reverting to its Celtic name of Caer Luel the offset alignment of the base stones. 3. Bewcastle (Fanum Cocidii) (later corrupted to ‘Carlisle’). The panoramic views from both sites are A second fort (Uxellodonum) was built stunning. (GR. NY565747) at Stanwix. This was the largest fort on Free access. Adjacent car park. This was an outpost fort, built six miles the Wall. It housed a 1000-strong cavalry (10 km) to the north of Hadrian’s Wall. regiment called the Ala Petriana – a crack Nearby Lanercost Priory was founded c.1169 The most distinctive feature of this fort force of Roman soldiers trained for rapid and is largely built of stones from Hadrian’s Wall. Admission charge. is its hexagonal shape. Unusually, the deployment along this section of Hadrian’s www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/lanercost bath house is situated within the fort’s Wall. Above: Circular openwork southeast corner (normally it is found mount with Jupiter’s eagle at centre Lanercost Tearoom is adjacent to the priory and Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail follows Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust, Carlisle outside the fort’s perimeter). A has a large car park. the south bank of the river Eden in Carlisle regiment from Dacia (Romania) and is accessible through Bitts Park.