[Frontispiece: THIRLWALL CASTLE, BUILT OF WALL-STONES, HERE THE SCOTTS THIRLED (_i.e._ PIERCED) THE WALL] HADRIAN'S WALL BY JESSIE MOTHERSOLE WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR MAPS & PLANS JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD LIMITED LONDON VIGO STREET W.1 First Published ... October 1922 Second Edition .... December 1922 Third Edition ..... December 1924 MADE AND PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY MORRISON AND GIBB LTD., EDINBURGH _BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ THE ISLES OF SCILLY : Their Story, Their Folk, and their Flowers With 26 Plates in Colour THE SAXON SHORE Illustrated in Colour and Black & White {v} PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION Since the first appearance of this book, a very important event has occurred in the history of Hadrian's Wall. It has been definitely recognized as a monument of national importance, to be scheduled and protected under the authority of the Office of Works. This means that owners and occupiers of the lands over which it extends will be powerless to interfere with it, unless by the authority of the Department, and that they will be liable for the repair of any damage that may be done to it. It is not too much to say that this marks the greatest epoch in the history of the Wall since, at the end of the fourth century, it ceased to be garrisoned, and was allowed to fall into disrepair. Neglect or wanton destruction fell to its share for fourteen hundred years. Now the Office of Works has set the seal on the tireless efforts of Mr. John Clayton and Dr. Collingwood Bruce, who would indeed have rejoiced to see this day. * * * * * * * Important discoveries have been made at several {vi} points along the line of the Wall during the last three years. The site of the fort at Burgh-by-sands was definitely located by Mr. W. G. Collingwood, F.S.A., and Mr. R. G. Collingwood, F.S.A., in 1922. Since 1903, when the main road was "up" for drainage purposes and no Roman remains were found, the very existence of the fort had been questioned. But excavation has resulted in the discovery of the east gate, lying just north of Hadrian's Wall, on the edge of the main road, which represents roughly the _via principalis_. Stone barrack-buildings were also traced, running north and south, and the fort was proved to have lain across the line of Hadrian's Wall, as did Cilurnum. The main road is a cutting, below the level of any Roman remains. The stones of some of the fort walls had rotted so completely that the spade cut quite through them, and thus my scepticism about "perishing stones" in the neighbourhood was rebuked (p. 207). The Church at Burgh probably occupies the site of one of the central buildings, perhaps of a granary, the massive stones from which would be very handy for the Church-builders.