Hadrian’s Wall spans 80 Roman miles (73 present day miles or 117 kilometres) from coast to coast across northern England, making it the largest Roman archaeological feature in Britain. It runs from Segedunum in Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east, to Bowness-on-Solway in the west.

The building of the Wall began in AD122 during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian’s Wall marked the boundary between Roman Britannia and the unconquered Caledonia to the north and provided a defensive barrier between the two. The Wall also provided years of work for thousands of soldiers who were responsible for building, maintaining, and manning it, along with the Milecastles and turrets built along the Wall.

These plans showing Hadrian’s Wall are part of a series of large-scale archaeological plans held in the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne collection at Northumberland Archives.

The first plan (SANT PLA/7/2/1/1A) was made in about 1746 as a survey for the new military road between Newcastle and Carlisle. The plan says “A Survey of the Country between Newcastle and Carlisle, Representing the several present Roads and the Tract which is proposed for the New Intended Road of Communication between these Towns. As also the Course of the Roman Wall with all the Military Stations, Castalla and Roman Ways that lye upon
this Survey”.

The second plan (SANT PLA/7/2/1/2) was made in about 1850. The red line on the plan shows the route of Hadrian’s Wall from Segedunum in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. The plan is labelled with both the Roman names of various locations, along with the names that the locations were then known by.

The Military Road is the name given to the B6318 which runs from Heddon-on-the-Wall in the east to Greenhead in the west. The road was built by Hanoverian forces in order to suppress the Jacobite Risings in order to transport troops from Newcastle to the west. Construction of the road began in 1746.

The road runs alongside Hadrian’s Wall for most of its length, some stretches of the road are built on the foundations of the Wall. Most of the road is straight, resembling the style of Roman roads. Unusually, the Military Way Roman built road which runs along the southern side of Hadrian’s Wall is a rare example of a non-straight Roman road.

The construction of the Military Road has been cited as one of the most damaging operations to Hadrian’s Wall in recorded history. Sandstone and limestone were salvaged from the Wall and used in the construction of the road.