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What is Hadrian's Wall?

Niki Acker
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Updated: Feb 16, 2024
Views: 17,037
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Hadrian's Wall is an ancient Roman fortification located in northern England. When built, it was 73.5 miles (117 km) long, spanning the entire width of the island nation. The wall was built around 122 to 130 CE and served many functions for the Romans: it was a visible symbol of their might, the northern border of the Empire, a defense against the Picts of ancient Scotland, and a trading center. Today, much of the wall survives, though many parts are eroded and its stones have been culled for other building projects over the centuries.

Construction on Hadrian's Wall began after the Emperor Hadrian visited Britain in 122. Civil problems in other parts of the Empire, notably in the Middle East, inspired the emperor's decision for a massive fortification in Great Britain. The width and height of the wall varied along its length, but generally ranged from 10 to 20 feet (about 3 to 6 meters) in most places. It was constructed of stone and turf.

The wall incorporated milecastles, or small forts, at every Roman mile, for a total of 80 along its full length. Intermediate turrets were also included for observation. Later, a number of larger forts, from 14 to 17 depending on the source, were built near the wall for additional protection. A vallum, a large ditch with high earth banks on either side, was added to the southern side.

Hadrian's Wall was occupied by auxiliary Roman troops throughout the remainder of the Roman presence in Great Britain, and it is assumed that many intermarried with the native population. The emperor after Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, turned his attentions to the construction of a new wall, the Antonine Wall, within Scotland, and the more southern one was not heavily used during his reign. It became important again in the reign of the new emperor, Marcus Aurelius, after Antoninus Pius' attempts at northern expansion were unsuccessful. Roman forces withdrew from Great Britain early in the 5th century, though the wall remained occupied in parts for a few decades. Today, Hadrian's Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most popular tourist attraction in northern England.

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Niki Acker
By Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of interesting and unusual topics to gather ideas for her own articles. A graduate of UCLA with a double major in Linguistics and Anthropology, Niki's diverse academic background and curiosity make her well-suited to create engaging content for WiseGeekreaders. "

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Discussion Comments
By anon257126 — On Mar 25, 2012

It was constructed with rocks and turf. Hadrian's wall helped keep the British out of Rome and marked the end of the world for most Romans. It is 10 to 20 feet tall and 173.5 miles long.

By anon137821 — On Dec 29, 2010

how was it constructed?

By anon136646 — On Dec 23, 2010

How did it help the empire?

By anon39573 — On Aug 03, 2009

how tall is the hadrian's wall?

Niki Acker
Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of...
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