Hadrian's Wall

Line of fortifications built by the Roman emperor Hadrian across northern Britain from the Cumbrian coast on the west to the North Sea on the east. The wall itself ran from Bowness-on-Windermere on the Solway Firth to Wallsend on the River Tyne, a distance of 110 km/68 mi. It was defended by 16 forts and smaller intermediate fortifications. It was breached by the Picts on several occasions and finally abandoned in about 383.

Referred to colloquially as the Picts' Wall, it was covered in some parts with a glistening, white coat of mortar. Numerous modifications were made to the original plan, usually owing to the need to conserve labour and resources for such an enormous project.