IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Antonine Walk, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 0EE

Lichen-encrusted rock deep within a dense plantation of gorse is said to bear the tool marks of the Roman soldiers who cut the wide ditch of the Roman Vallum through this rock adjacent to Hadrian's Wall as it crossed the summit of Great Hill just east of Heddon on the Wall Image The Vallum was built on the south side of Hadrian's Wall sometime after the Wall and its forts had been built. Considerable effort in regions such as this, where it had to be cut through bed rock, was exerted to make it a continuous barrier, forcing easy crossing only at the location of the forts where a causeway was left across the Vallum ditch and sometimes gated. The common theory is that is established a demilitarised zone on the south side of the Wall. This was latter breached and possibly recut but much is still uncertain about this unique Roman earthwork.

It is said that on the summit of Great Hill, just east of Heddon on the Wall, the works of the vallum are very well marked. The ditch is cut through the freestone rock and the south scarp shows Roman tool marks Image However, this part is now so overgrown with gorse that just getting through is a major expedition. Although there is outcropping rock on the side of this cutting, any tool marks would now be difficult to see. http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/hadrians-wall.html

This is the longest surviving section of "broad" (approx. 3 m) Wall; the Vallum can be seen in the field on the right (marked by the change in vegetation). The Wall and Vallum at Heddon can be seen on the satellite image http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=54.9966535007787&lon=-1.7870056629180908&gz=17&oz=8>=1.

Hadrian's Wall has been preserved in a short section just east of the village by the fortuitous banding of the road away from its line in the vicinity of Great Hill. It joins the line of the road which was built on its foundations near where the road reaches its highest point over the hill. The Vallum ditch is cut through the rock on the hill top to the right, now covered by gorse. http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/hadrians-wall.html

The brightening of Hadrian's Wall - one of the annual Seven Wonders of Heddon on the Wall. Strongly reflexed sepals and grooved flower stems probably identify this as the Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus).

The north defensive ditch can be seen to the right of the Wall.