Housesteads Roman Fort - Full Tour. Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland

Описание: Housesteads is the most complete Roman fort in Britain today. Perched high on a wild escarpment, this isolated location really gives visitors a true sense of what it was like for the legionaries living at the edge of the Roman Empire. My film takes you on an entire tour around the fort.

Reasons to visit –
• This is the most complete Roman fort in Britain.
• Impressive views and location on Hadrian’s Wall.
• Best preserved Roman toilet in Britain.
• The only Hospital found in Roman Britain.
• A museum crammed with sculptures and artifacts.
• Great place to start a walk along the wall.

This is a great place to start a walk along Hadrians Wall. To the west of the fort in a wooded area is a section of the wall, which has been integrated into the walking trail. This is the only part of the wall that you can officially walk on.

You can get to Housesteads by car, bus (AD122) or by walking along Hadrian's Wall. From the main car park there is a short uphill walk. There is disabled access to the museum but the site itself has limited access as it is on a steep slope and has steps. There is disabled parking at the museum to avoid the uphill walk to the fort but must be arranged with the visitor centre. The AD122 only runs from the end of March until the end of September.

The site is run by English Heritage and is also free to National Trust members. The site is open most of the year but opening times vary, check the website for details.

The visitor centre,, next to the fort, has limited facilities and portable toilets. The main centre by the car park has better facilities but is a 10 minute walk from the fort.

Location: Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 6NN.

The History bit -
Hadrian’s Wall started to be built in AD122, for 300 years it remained the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire and is the most important Roman monument built in Britain. The Wall was built to protect the Empire from the northern barbarians and to control the population and trade.

The fort was built after work on the wall had already started. The decision to build a fort on the wall may have been in response to barbarian attacks. The fort was defended by 800 legionaries.

In AD 139 the Romans advanced into Scotland and created the Antonine Wall. Whilst some of Hadrian’s Wall was abandoned Housesteads appears to have continued to be occupied. The Antonine Wall was abandoned in AD 158 and once again Hadrian’s Wall became the Roman's main defensive line.

The auxiliary troops at Housesteads would have been under continued threat of attack. In the AD 150s, 180s and again in AD 367 there was serious unrest in Britain. During the AD 180s the wall was over-run and a general and his troops were killed. There was extensive building work during the reign of Septimus Severus indicating Housesteads played a role during the invasion of Scotland AD 208 - 211.

During its lifetime Housesteads was garrisoned by auxiliary infantry troops, cavalry and even archers. The auxiliary infantry unit of Tungrians, originated from Belgium. At one time soldiers from a regiment of Syrian bowmen were stationed at Housesteads, the range of their arrows providing an excellent addition to the fort’s defences. In the third century a small cavalry unit of Frisians ( from Holland) were stationed at the fort.

Interesting facts –
The Romans called the fort Vercovicium which means “hilly place” or “settlement on the slope”.

The fort had no natural supply of water and the Romans relied on collecting rain water for drinking and bathing water.

Credits:
Thank you for watching my film, I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful, please feel free to like it and leave a comment. Why don’t you have a look at some of the other films on my channel.

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Roman map graphic courtesy of Tom Benford

Roman re-enactors featured: Ermine Street Guard & Vicus.