Hadrian's Wall: What is it? - A Brief Introduction for Kids
Updated: Aug 19, 2022
Hadrian's Wall Facts:
When:
Hadrian's Wall was constructed in 122AD.
What:
It is a huge wall that stretches right across the North of England, named after Emperor Hadrian.
Why:
The Romans built it to separate Roman land in Britain from Scotland and defend it from the attacking Scottish tribes.
How:
It took about 15,000 soldiers around 14 years to build the whole wall from stone and earth.
Did you know:
The wall is 73 miles long, 3 meters wide, and between 3.5 and 6 meters high!
The Structure of Hadrian's Wall:
Forts:
There were 16 forts along the total length of Hadrian's Wall. Each was home to approx. 600 soldiers.
Milecastles:
Were fortified gateways through which soldiers could patrol the wall. Built every Roman mile along the wall. Each Milecastle was home to approx. 20 soldiers.
Turrets:
Were tall viewing points where soldiers could keep watch. There were two Turrets at regular intervals between each Milecastle.
Did you know:
Today we can only see about 10% of the original wall, over the years the other stones were removed or destroyed.
Further Reading:
