Name: Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall
Rating: 5.0

Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall

Wall, Hexham NE46 4EQ, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Planetrees Roman Wall - Hadrian's Wall not far east of Chesters Roman Fort in Northumberland is a 35-metre long stretch of Hadrian's Wall at Planetrees. This length of the Wall is important for what it reveals about a change of plan that took place during the construction of the Wall, when its width was narrowed from 10 to 8 Roman feet – probably to speed up building.

At Planetrees, clearly the soldiers laying the Wall’s foundations had worked faster than the builders of the superstructure, because the narrower Wall sits on top of broader foundations. This small section of the Wall, about 27 Roman miles (40km) from its eastern end, reveals an important change to the construction plan that was made while work was in progress.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Planetrees Roman Wall: The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall from AD 122 at the northern edge of the province of Britannia, marking the north-west boundary of their empire. A 35-metre long section of the Wall that narrowly escaped total destruction in the 19th century is preserved at Planetrees, on a gentle slope at the eastern edge of the North Tyne valley.
This small section of the Wall, about 27 Roman miles (40km) from its eastern end, reveals an important change to the construction plan that was made while work was in progress.
The design of Hadrian’s Wall: The original design for Hadrian’s Wall comprised a continuous wall about 4.5 metres high, with a V-shaped ditch along its north side, extending for 80 Roman miles (117.5km) from Wallsend on the river Tyne in the east to Burgh-by-Sands on the Solway Firth in the west.
A change of plan: The original intention was for Hadrian’s Wall to be about 10 Roman feet (2.96 metres) wide. Building the foundation proceeded quickly, but raising the Wall itself was slower. This forced a reduction in the Wall’s width to between 6 and 8 Roman feet (1.8–2.37 metres), presumably to speed up construction.
Saving the Wall at Planetrees: The survival of this short stretch of Wall may be owed to the intervention of one man, William Hutton (1723–1815). In 1801, at the age of 78, Hutton walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall, also walking from his home in Birmingham and back – a total of 600 miles.
The Wall nearby: From Planetrees a 1.3-mile walk westwards via the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail leads to Brunton Turret, one of the best-preserved turrets on the entire Wall. The change in the width of the Wall is evident here too.

Facilities

Parking: There is an English Heritage managed car park at Chesters Roman Fort, but please note Planetrees is a 30 to 40 minute walk from the fort.

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Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Wall, Hexham NE46 4EQ, UK

Post Code: NE46 4EQ

Council: Northumberland

County: Northumberland

Road Access: 1 mile SE of Chollerford on B6318.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is an English Heritage managed car park at Chesters Roman Fort, but please note Planetrees is a 30 to 40 minute walk from the fort.