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H 276 x W 203 mm

178 pages

95 figures, 20 tables

Published Nov 2025

Archaeopress Archaeology

ISBN

Paperback: 9781805831457

Digital: 9781805831464

DOI 10.32028/9781805831457

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Archaeopress Roman Archaeology 113

Hadrian's Wall: Milecastles, Turrets and the Curtain

Edited by Derek A. Welsby, Nick Hodgson

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Four detailed studies reassess the design and form of Hadrian’s Wall, its milecastles and turrets. Drawing on the archaeological record, the contributors explore how the Wall’s structure and superstructures shaped its purpose and meaning within the Roman frontier system.

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Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables

 

Introduction – Derek A. Welsby and Nick Hodgson


Laying out the ground plans of turrets and milecastles on Hadrian’s Wall – Derek A. Welsby
Introduction
Turrets
Milecastles
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgements

Bibliography

 

Did Hadrian’s Wall have a wall walk? – Paul Bidwell
Introduction
The width of the Wall
Walls blocking turret recesses
The line of the later Stone Wall in relation to the stone turrets originally built as part of the Turf Wall Chamfered stones from a string course
The bridges on the line of the Wall
A crenellated parapet
Weaponry and use of the Wall-walk as a fighting-platform
Surveillance, patrols and defence
The Antonine Wall
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Bibliography


The stones from a chamfered string course on Hadrian’s Wall and their implications for the appearance of the Wall-top – Nick Hodgson
Introduction
The chamfered string course stones
The chamfered string course and the wider question of parapet and wall-walk
The wall-walk as a fighting platform or a sentry walk
Acknowledgements
Appendix 1: Published records of chamfered string course stones from Hadrian’s Wall
Appendix 2: The Berm Obstacles
Bibliography

 

Milecastle gate towers: present or absent? – Derek A. Welsby
Introduction
Discussion
The presence or absence of towers over milecastle gateways
Tower or no tower?
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Appendix 1. Inventory of milecastle gates where there is relevant data for use in this study
Appendix 2. Measurements of the visible stonework in milecastle and fort gates along Hadrian’s Wall
Bibliography

About the Author

Derek Welsby completed a PhD on Roman military archaeology, going on to spend most of his career excavating along the Nile and in the deserts of Central and Northern Sudan. For much of that time he was an assistant keeper based in what is now the Department of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum. He has excavated on Roman sites in the UK, Turkey and Libya and has travelled extensively throughout the Empire.


Nick Hodgson holds a BA degree from Oxford and PhD from Newcastle. He was formerly Principal Keeper of Archaeology, Tyne & Wear Museums (now Northeast Museums). He has excavated and published widely on Hadrian’s Wall and is currently preparing the results of the long-running excavations at South Shields Roman fort, at the eastern end of the Wall, for publication.