Hadrian's Wall
Spanning almost coast to coast across northern England, Hadrian’s Wall was the northern frontier of the Roman Empire for almost 300 years. Today, it is recognised as being the most famous Roman archaeological remain in Britain. This module was created as part of the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival, celebrating 1900 years since construction commenced on Hadrian’s Wall.
Below are a series of learning resources created from documents held at Northumberland Archives. They include suggested activities from a wide range of subjects including arts, humanities and STEM. They are aimed at all key stages and lifelong learners.
Resources are available to download in Word and PDF format.
Documents
Plans of Hadrian’s Wall, about 1746-1850
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Archaeological plans surveying Hadrian’s Wall for the building of the Military Road.
Topic: Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall
Glass Slide Sketch of the Building of Hadrian’s Wall, about 1900
Sketch showing builders and soldiers constructing Hadrian’s Wall.
Topic: Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall, Life of a Soldier, Engineering
Photographs of Milecastles and Turrets along Hadrian’s Wall, about 1892-1909
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Photographs taken by photographer and archaeologist J.P. Gibson.
Topic: Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall, Milecastles, Excavation
Photograph of the Barrack Blocks at Chesters Fort, about 1886
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Photographs taken by photographer and archaeologist J.P. Gibson.
Topic: Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Forts, Life of a Soldier, Excavation
Postcard of a Model of the Cavalry Fort at Benwell, about 1970
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Postcard showing a reconstruction of Condercum Fort at Benwell.
Topic: Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Forts, Life of a Soldier, Roman Gods
Photograph of Hadrian’s Tomb in Rome, 1929
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Photograph showing Hadrian’s Tomb on the bank of the Tiber River.
Topic: Roman Empire, Emperor Hadrian
Additional Resource
Photographing the Roman Wall, Then and Now – Exhibition
This virtual exhibition of J.P. Gibson images of Hadrian’s Wall is a collaboration between Northumberland Libraries and Northumberland Archives.
This project has been made possible thanks to a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England.