Hadrian’s Wall in our Time

The cutting down of the tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall caused widespread shock. In a positive response to this sad event, David Breeze invited 80 friends and colleagues to offer personal reflections on their favourite view of the Wall, presented here in a visual celebration with photographs and specially commissioned line dra

The cutting down of the tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023 caused widespread shock in Britain and beyond, and for many was felt as a personal loss. Since its appearance in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991, the tree has become the iconic view of Hadrian’s Wall. In a positive response, David Breeze, author of several books on Hadrian’s Wall, invited 80 friends and colleagues to nominate their favourite view of the Wall. The views are presented in a visual celebration with photographs and specially commissioned line drawings, each accompanied by personal reflections. The wide-ranging contributions are testimony to the affection many hold for this evocative Roman frontier.

Foreword Introduction The Tale of a Tree: Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall - Jim Crow The Iconic Landscapes of Hadrian's Wall - David Breeze Individual Contributions Before the Wall Hadrian and his Wall Hadrian's Wall from East to West The Cumbrian Coast Soldiers and Sweethearts Religion on the Wall Communication Beyond the Wall Antiquarians and Archaeologists Last Words Envoie Further Reading Acknowledgements and credits List of Contributors,

A Note on Terminology

Foreword – Rory Stewart

Introduction

The Tale of a Tree: Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall – Jim Crow

The Iconic Landscapes of Hadrian’s Wall – David Breeze

Individual Contributions

In the Beginning

Before the Wall

Hadrian and his Wall

Hadrian’s Wall from East to West

The Cumbrian Coast

Soldiers and Sweethearts

Religion on the Wall

Communications

Beyond the Wall

Antiquarians and Archaeologists

Last Words

Epilogue – David Breeze

Further Reading

Acknowledgements and Credits

List of Contributors

Contributors to this volume:
Marta Alberti, The Vindolanda Trust

Jon Allison, independent researcher

Lindsay Allason-Jones, Royal Archaeological Institute

Amy Baker, Newcastle University

Richard Beleson, San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society

Andrew Birley, The Vindolanda Trust

Barbara Birley,The Vindolanda Trust

Sam Bithnell, Newcastle University

Emanuela Borgia, Sapienza University, Rome

David J. Breeze, Universities of Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Stirling

Richard Brickstock, independent researcher and numismatist

Maureen Carroll, York University

Mike Collins, Heritage England

Rob Collins, Newcastle University

Jon Coulston, St Andrews University

Eleri Cousins, Lancaster University

Alex Croom,Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Jim Crow,Edinburgh University

Eckhard Deschler-Erb, University of Cologne

Christof Flügel, Bavarian Museums Service

Rachel Frame,The Vindolanda Trust

Jane Gibson, Hadrian’s Wall Partnership Board

Frank Giecco, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology

Erik Graafstal, Municipal archaeologist, Utrecht

Elizabeth M. Greene, University of Western Ontario

Bill Griffiths, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Bill Hanson, University of Glasgow

Ian Haynes, Newcastle University/British School in Rome

Tom Hazenberg, Hazenberg Archeologie

Dave Heslop, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle

Richard Hingley, Durham University

Matthew Hobson, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology/University of Leicester

Nick Hodgson, Durham University

Tatiana Ivleva, Newcastle University

Ian Jackson, British Geological Survey

Rececca H. Jones, Historic Environment Scotland/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies

Paul J. Kitching, Durham University

Jane Laskey, Senhouse Roman Museum

Al McCluskey, Newcastle University

David McGlade, Hadrian’s Wall National Trail

Lesley Macinnes,Historic Environment Scotland

Frances McIntosh, English Heritage Museums

Alex Meyer, University of Western Ontario

Roger Miket, South Shields Roman fort

Katie Mountain, Pre-construct Archaeology, Durham

Rachel Newman, Oxford Archaeology North

Jürgen Obmann, Bavarian Office for Ancient Monuments

Katy O’Donnell, CFA Archaeology

Don O’Meara, English Heritage

Iwan Peverett, New Visions Heritage Ltd

Andrew Poad, The National Trust

John S. Poulter, independent researcher

Elsa Price, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery

Ivana Protic, Belgrade University

Carole Radatto, independent researcher

Mark Richards, author

Pete Savin, independent researcher

John Scott, Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site

William D. Shannon, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society

Avril Sinclair, retired schoolteacher

Rory Stewart, politician and author

Matt Symonds, Current World Archaeology

Graeme Stobbs, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Catherine Teitz, the Vindolanda Trust

Andreas Thiel, State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, Stuttgart/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies

Carol van Driel-Murray, Leiden University

Harry van Enckevort, independent researcher

David Walsh, Newcastle University

Sue Ward, a retired journalist

Humphrey Welfare, Newcastle University

John Peter Wild, Manchester University

Tony Wilmott, Historic England

John Wilkes, London University

Alan Wilkins, specialist in Roman artillery

Pete Wilson, Rarey Archaeology

Rob Witcher, Durham University

• Edited by David J. Breeze
• Illustrated by Mark B. Richards
• Foreword by Rory Stewart

'This is a remarkable volume in many ways, not least because of the supplement of affection that inhabits it – but it is, first and foremost, a splendid repository of information, elegantly laid out and clearly presented, and a brilliant entry-level account of what the Wall has to offer to its visitors, whatever their interests and persuasions might be, and of the place it has in the communities that it touches. It should be on the radar of anyone who has even a tangential interest in Roman Britain, and should be warmly recommended to anyone who might be thinking to explore the Wall.' – Federico Santangelo, Newcastle University (2025): Greece & Rome

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