Hadrian's Wall Field Trip 7th June 2003
You can find out more the wall, the sites and the facilities at English Heritages's Hadrian's Wall website and the Hadrian's Wall Country website.
Carrawburgh
The fort of Brocolitia was situated at this site (click here to see location). Only the unexcavated fort platform is visible but to the south-west of the fort there is an excavated and consolidated Mithraeum (Temple to Mithras).
The Mithraeum.
The altar reconstructions.
Birdoswald (Banna)
The fort at Birdoswald is under the care of English Heritage. As well as the partially excavated fort, there is a visitor centre, shop and cafe.
Rachel gives us the low-down on Birdoswald.
Could this fancy stonework have been part of an earlier monument which was incorporated into the fort?
The farmhouse.
Examining the door-stop of the west gate.
The excavated area of the fort. The tree trunks show the position of posts belonging to a large post-Roman building.
We prepare to set out along the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Hadrian's Wall Path
We explored a short section of the recently opened Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail between Birdoswald and Banks East Turret, a distance of 3 Roman miles. See map. The stone wall diverges from the earlier turf wall at the beginning of this section. The remains of the turf wall and vallum can be clearly seen.
The excavated area of the fort. The tree trunks show the position of posts belonging to a large post-Roman building.
We prepare to set out along the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Heading west from Birdoswald. The stone Wall is to the right of the path.
Turret to the west of Birdoswald.
Looking east along the wall towards Birdoswald.
The remains of the counterscarp (foreground), ditch and turf wall.
Extensive earthworks belonging to ditch, wall and vallum run to the left of the fence in this picture.
Walking along the vallum wall.
Rachel wlcomes us to Pike Hill Signal Tower.
The end in sight. Looking towards Banks East Turret from Pike Hill Signal Tower.
Pike Hill Signal Tower. Note how it is set at 45° to the line of the wall, indicating it was a pre-existing structure which was incorporated into the Wall.
Banks East Turret. Rachel points out some more fancy stonework that may indicate that this was a pre-existing structure which was incorporated into the Wall.