Hadrian's Wall in our Time

The cutting down of the tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023 caused widespread shock in Britain and beyond, and for many was felt as a personal loss. Since its appearance in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991, the tree has become the iconic view of Hadrian’s Wall. In a positive response to this sad event, David Breeze, author of several books on Hadrian’s Wall, invited 80 friends and colleagues to nominate their favourite view of the Wall. The views are presented in a visual celebration with photographs and specially commissioned line drawings, each accompanied by personal reflections. The wide-ranging contributions are testimony to the affection many hold for this evocative Roman frontier.

Contributors to this volume: Marta Alberti, The Vindolanda Trust Jon Allison, independent researcher Lindsay Allason-Jones, Royal Archaeological Institute Amy Baker, Newcastle University Richard Beleson, San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society Andrew Birley, The Vindolanda Trust Barbara Birley,The Vindolanda Trust Sam Bithnell, Newcastle University Emanuela Borgia, Sapienza University, Rome David J. Breeze, Universities of Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Stirling Richard Brickstock, independent researcher and numismatist Maureen Carroll, York University Mike Collins, Heritage England Rob Collins, Newcastle University Jon Coulston, St Andrews University Eleri Cousins, Lancaster University Alex Croom,Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Jim Crow,Edinburgh University Eckhard Deschler-Erb, University of Cologne Christof Flügel, Bavarian Museums Service Rachel Frame,The Vindolanda Trust Jane Gibson, Hadrian’s Wall Partnership Board Frank Giecco, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology Erik Graafstal, Municipal archaeologist, Utrecht Elizabeth M. Greene, University of Western Ontario Bill Griffiths, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Bill Hanson, University of Glasgow Ian Haynes, Newcastle University/British School in Rome Tom Hazenberg, Hazenberg Archeologie Dave Heslop, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Richard Hingley, Durham University Matthew Hobson, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology/University of Leicester Nick Hodgson, Durham University Tatiana Ivleva, Newcastle University Ian Jackson, British Geological Survey Rececca H. Jones, Historic Environment Scotland/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Paul J. Kitching, Durham University Jane Laskey, Senhouse Roman Museum Al McCluskey, Newcastle University David McGlade, Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Lesley Macinnes,Historic Environment Scotland Frances McIntosh, English Heritage Museums Alex Meyer, University of Western Ontario Roger Miket, South Shields Roman fort Katie Mountain, Pre-construct Archaeology, Durham Rachel Newman, Oxford Archaeology North Jürgen Obmann, Bavarian Office for Ancient Monuments Katy O’Donnell, CFA Archaeology Don O’Meara, English Heritage Iwan Peverett, New Visions Heritage Ltd Andrew Poad, The National Trust John S. Poulter, independent researcher Elsa Price, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Ivana Protic, Belgrade University Carole Radatto, independent researcher Mark Richards, author Pete Savin, independent researcher John Scott, Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site William D. Shannon, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society Avril Sinclair, retired schoolteacher Rory Stewart, politician and author Matt Symonds, Current World Archaeology Graeme Stobbs, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Catherine Teitz, the Vindolanda Trust Andreas Thiel, State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, Stuttgart/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Carol van Driel-Murray, Leiden University Harry van Enckevort, independent researcher David Walsh, Newcastle University Sue Ward, a retired journalist Humphrey Welfare, Newcastle University John Peter Wild, Manchester University Tony Wilmott, Historic England John Wilkes, London University Alan Wilkins, specialist in Roman artillery Pete Wilson, Rarey Archaeology Rob Witcher, Durham University|David J. Breeze has been Chair of the International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies and President of several archaeological societies in the UK. He was Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Scotland from 1989 to 2005, and subsequently led the team which successfully nominated the Antonine Wall as a World Heritage Site in 2008. David has excavated on both Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall and written several books on these frontiers, on frontiers elsewhere in the Roman Empire and on the Roman army.