Official image for the 1900 Hadrian’s Wall Festival – used with permission 2021

Marking the 1900^th Anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall (AD 122-2022)

The 24 January 2022 marks the 1900^th anniversary of the commencement of the building of Hadrian’s Wall. The anniversary celebrations conclude, on 23^rd December 2022 which is the final day of the Festival of Saturnalia.

A relatively recent relocation into the northeast of England and being almost a stone’s throw of part of Hadrian’s Wall, this is a great opportunity for us to explore part of the wall and the heritage sites that exist along the wall.

It will enable us to research the fundamentals of those who lived and worked within the broad Roman Empire, and within the Frontier. These explorations will enable us to add some context to the archaeology and heritage of the Roman Empire as well as any artefacts that were left behind and have survived the test of time.

Some of the questions we will be exploring and answering are:

• Why the Wall
• Where the Romans came from and where they went
• Why they came and why they left
• Naming of People and Places
  • Tria Nomina
    • Phaenomen
    • Nomen
    • Cognomen
• People and Places – what was important to the people of the time
  • Festival of Saturnalia

© Julie Goucher, September 2020 – Chesters Roman Fort

As we explore Romans along the wall, we will visit properties and sites looked after by a combination of English Heritage, National Trust, and various other organisations:

• Chesters Roman Fort
• Housesteads Roman Fort
• Benwell Roman Temple
• Birdoswald Roman Fort
• Denton Hall Turret
• Birdoswald Roman Fort
• Walltown Crags
• Corbridge Roman Fort
  • Corbridge Hoard
  • Corbridge Collection
• Lanercost Priory
• Poltross Burn Milecastle which is a river location
• Willowfort wall, turrets, and bridge
• Harrows Sear Milecastle and wall
• Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum
• Roman Army Museum
• Arbeia South Shields
• Segedurium Roman Fort
• Vindolanda Trust
• Senhouse Roman Museum

Moving Forward:

• Reading about Romans
• Key Resources

The list is not exhaustive and over the course of the year, we shall be exploring and sharing our researching and readings, along with any illustrations and photographs online. There is likely to be other material we come across, and we will shared this also. This is going to be a fascinating project and we are looking forward to being able to take part.

The posts will be suitable for all age groups, and they  will be shared via social media and will each contain the hashtag #HW1900.

All published posts will be listed and linked from the main menu above. They can also be found using the category of 1900 Years of Hadrian’s Wall, and the full link for the series of posts is https://anglersrest.net/genealogical-research/hadrians-wall/

If you want to see who else is taking part in celebrating this amazing anniversary, or want to participate then please visit the main website the for the event HERE. You can read my entry HERE.