Hadrian's Wall

At the western end of Hadrian’s Wall was the Roman fort Maia, guarding the approach from the Solway. The village is built on the site of the fort and Roman stones can be seen in the local buildings, including the Norman church. Built atop what may be the granary for the Roman fort in the 12th century, the two original bells were stolen by border raiders in 1626, accidentally dropping them in the Solway during their flight.

On the site of the 3rd century Roman Fort of Aballava, the church primarily dates from the 12th century and is built from the stones of Hadrian’s Wall. The fort was home to the first Africans to live in Britain. Writing on a stone discovered in 1934 records that soldiers from north Africa were part of the garrison. King Edward I died nearby and his body lay in state in the church before being taken to London. He was visited by his Heir, the future King Edward II in 1307, when for ten days the church was at the centre of national events.

Beaumont, has an uninterrupted view north to the Solway Firth and Scotland and south to the Lake District fells. It was the site of one the Roman milecastles, a small fort built at an interval of one Roman mile. A Norman motte and bailey castle was then built, before the same site was used for the church. Roman stones from the wall and milecastle were used by the Normans and then reused in the church; look for stones with a criss cross marking.

Just south of Hadrian’s Wall Brampton is a picturesque market town surrounded by a landscape that is perfect for walking and cycling. Birdoswald Roman Fort is nearby and the town is overlooked by a man made Norman motte that offers great views of the area. Brampton Old Church on the banks of the River Irthing is on the site of a Roman fort and partially built from stones recycled from the Roman buildings.

In the peaceful Irthing Valley and close to the route of Hadrian’s Wall, Lanercost is well known for its 12th century Augustine Priory and royal connections. It suffered frequent attacks during the long Anglo Scottish wars, once by Robert Bruce in person. An inscribed Roman centurial stone in the priory's fabric shows that stone to build the original structure came from the wall. This stone is clearly visible, but it was incorporated into the stonework upside down!

At Over Denton, not far from Gilsland, you'll find a tiny church with a fine Roman arch and Roman stones. This Anglo Saxon church was built in 826 using a lot of Roman stones from Birdoswald Fort. It can probably claim to be the oldest standing building in Cumbria.

On Hadrian's Wall path lies one of the most important sites in early northern Christianity. St Oswald's is at the site of the Battle of Heavenfield where, in AD 635, King (later Saint) Oswald of Northumbria raised a cross before defeating King Cadwallon ap Cadfon of Gwynedd. St Oswald's stands in a churchyard set in the middle of a field, entered by gates which should be shut after passing through them. It contains a Roman altar reused as a cross base.

Flavinus the standard bearer There has been a church on this site for over 1300 years. Its greatest treasure of all is the Anglo Saxon crypt. A steep stone stair descending from the nave takes you down into rooms and passages left intact from St Wilfrid's original church. But, the Abbey also has a sandstone memorial to a Roman standard bearer called Flavinus. Dating from the 1st century, this stone is a reminder of the Roman domination of this part of England, centuries before Wilfrid arrived.

Corbridge was once a Roman garrison town called Corstopitum, not far from Hadrian’s Wall, and the first church was probably built around 774 using ruins from the nearby camp. The walls are filled with its stones, and the church still contains an intact Roman archway at the base of its Saxon tower, which dates from the 8th century.

The church dates from c1100. It has splendid Roman columns on the south side and pillars on the north side, removed from either the Corbridge or Chesters Roman sites. Woodwork also dates from the Jacobean period and a number of Roman artefacts are built into the walls. A Roman altar is housed in the back of the church. We hope they do not ever want them back!

A little church with a long name. It is probable that this is an Anglo Saxon church. The walls are made of reused Roman stones, we are only a mile or so south of the wall. Outside the church there is a Roman altar, which probably came originally from the nearby Hadrian's Wall fort of Onnvm. Close to the west wall of the church is the topiary yew 'pig'.

Heddon has the first long stretch of Hadrian's Wall west of Newcastle. The church was consecrated in 630 and still retains many Saxon and later Norman elements. Nikolaus Pevsner called it 'a church of considerable archaeological fascination'. There are two decorative capitals which were possibly recovered from a disused Roman building.