Short Story
On a brisk February morning, six intrepid KBT students, accompanied by Dr David Holmes, set out to explore one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in North-East England – Hadrian’s Wall (known to all Geordies as ‘The Roman Wall’). Built between 122-128 AD, during the rule of Emperor Hadrian, the wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Roman Empire. It was 73 miles (120 km) long, spanning the width of England from Wallsend (!), near Newcastle, in the East, to the shore of the Solway Firth in the West. The wall was made from squared stone and, in places, measured nearly 10 ft (3 meters) wide and 16–20 ft (5-6 meters) high.
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Full Story
Reasons for the construction of the wall vary; the exact explanation has never been recorded. It may have been just an expression of Roman power, but local legend favours its role as a defensive barrier against the wild, unruly, and unkempt barbarians to the North (now known as Scotsmen!). Perhaps the latter explanation has its roots in the continuous battles for supremacy in the border region between the English and Scottish ‘Border Reivers’. The fact that the actual border between England and Scotland now lies 60 miles to the North of Hadrian’s Wall perhaps gives an idea of who eventually reigned supreme!!
The KBT students’ adventure started with a visit to the Roman Army Museum located towards the western end of the Wall. There they were met by Dr Bob Finn (lecturer in Biochemistry on the KBT) and his wife Kate, who is involved with the archaeological excavation of one of the most important settlements along the wall, a fortified town called Vindolanda. Amongst the attractions of the museum is an award-winning 3D movie showing the life of a Roman soldier in this far flung outpost of the empire and how the army was organised. It illustrated the magnitude of the wall in its prime, and showed the forts and towns along its length as they would have appeared in the 2nd century AD. Apparently the archers in defenders of the wall came from Syria – not an inconsiderable trek for them even in the present day!
After a short break for coffee, and to pick up their weapons(!) the KBT Legionnaires, marshalled by Centurions Robertus Finnius and Davidian Holmesae, made their way to Steel Rigg – a place where there is an extensive unbroken stretch of the wall located in a particularly rugged, but spectacular, Northumberland scenery. There followed a pleasant but undulating walk along the wall to the nearest milecastle – propelled by a brisk North-West wind on the outward journey and hindered by the same on the way back! At the milecastle the 10th KBT Brigade of the Caledonian SEALS, armed to the teeth with their gladii (swords, not flowers!) attempted to breech the wall through a small gap, but the English (and Irish) present sent them back North to boil their haggis and blow their bagpipes.
After the walk and the attempted invasion, the KBT party made the short journey to the nearby Twice Brewed Inn (so called because they used to brew their beer twice to increase the alcohol content). Hot soup and sandwiches awaited them, and most did partake of a pint of Twice Brewed Ale (normal strength!). Refreshed, the travellers now embarked on the last stage of their Roman adventure - to Vindolanda. This fort was originally constructed in turf and timber and later rebuilt with stone. The fort, and the adjacent civilian community, remained in existence until the end of the Roman period in Britain in 410 AD. Mrs Kate Finn explained to the students that excavations at the site are undertaken each summer and that the anoxic conditions that prevail here have preserved thousands of artifacts that normally disintegrate in the ground.
This provides an opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of Roman life – military and otherwise – on the northern frontier. After a tour of the excavated town, the party saw some of the artifacts that are now exhibited in the new Vindolanda museum; these include Roman boots, shoes, armour, jewellery and coins, and a small selection of Roman writing tablets. Mrs Finn’s enthusiasm was infectious so it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of the KBT students return in the future to spend a summer engaging in the archeological exploration of the Vindolanda. Watch this space!
Legionnaires: Term 2 KBTGSP Students - Amar Kelkar, Jay Mathur, Martin Hash, Pradhan Laxman, Kothari Soor, Reddy Revanth.
By Dr. David Holmes
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