Model of Hadrian's Wall, Tullie House Museum and
Model showing the method of wall building used by the Romans to build the turf wall of Hadrian's Wall, at the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle, Cumbria, England. The majority of the wall was made up of 2 skins of stone blocks filled with rubble which was held in position by either clay or mortar. The surface may have been rendered or coated with lime wash. However, the Western end of Hadrian's Wall was built from layers of turf laid on top of one another. It is not certain why there was a difference, but we know that the rebuilding of the Western part in stone began within 10 days. Carlisle sits at the Western end of Hadrian's Wall. Hadrian's Wall was built 73 miles across Britannia, now England, 122-128 AD, under the reign of Emperor Hadrian, ruled 117-138, to mark the Northern extent of the Roman Empire and guard against barbarian attacks from the Picts to the North. The wall was fortified with milecastles with 2 turrets in between, and a fort about every 5 Roman miles. Picture by Manuel Cohen
