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Cawfields Roman Wall

United Kingdom

8 story sections

Cawfields boasts one of the best preserved and most scenic stretches of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. The wall at Cawfields stretches across a steeply sloped site and terminates abruptly in high cliffs, where the land has been cut away by quarrying. On this stretch of the Wall is a large milecastle, easily accessed on foot.

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Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to Cawfields, a site that uniquely captures the collision of Roman antiquity and Victorian industrialism. As you stand here, you are looking at one of the most dramatic and well-preserved sections of Hadrian's Wall. …

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  2. 2Milecastle 42: The Gate to the North

    As you climb the short, steep slope from the quarry, you arrive at Milecastle 42, also known as the Cawfields Milecastle. This is one of the most impressive of the eighty-odd small forts that once punctuated the wall at every…

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  3. 3The Quarry Lake: Reclaimed Industry

    Descending back toward the water, we can reflect on the Cawfields Quarry itself. Until the 1940s, this was a site of noise and industry. …

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  4. 4Hole Gap and the Foundation Stones

    Just to the west of the Milecastle lies 'Hole Gap,' a natural break in the crags where the wall descends to a lower level. Here, you can get a close-up look at the 'foundation stones' of the wall. …

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  5. 5The Military Way: The Road of the Legions

    Running just to the south of the wall at Cawfields is a stretch of the 'Military Way.' This was the arterial road of the frontier, a well-engineered stone track that allowed for the rapid deployment of troops. If a sentry at a…

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  6. 6Flora and Fauna of the Crags

    The landscape around Cawfields is not just a graveyard of stone; it is a vibrant ecological habitat. The Whin Sill provides a unique environment for specialized plants. …

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  7. 7Archaeological Heritage and Modern Preservation

    As we conclude this part of the tour, it is worth considering the ongoing work of archaeologists and conservators at Cawfields. The site is a 'Scheduled Ancient Monument,' meaning it is protected by law from unauthorized changes. …

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  8. 8Closing

    Our exploration of Cawfields concludes here, amid the dramatic silence of the quarry and the steadfast ruins of the wall. We have traced the footsteps of the Second Augustan Legion through Milecastle 42, pondered the industrial…

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What is Cawfields Roman Wall?

Cawfields Roman Wall is a place in United Kingdom with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationUnited Kingdom
TypeActivity
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates54.9869, -2.4544
Last updated
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