Roman Heritage on the North Tyne

In the Chollerford valley on the North Tyne lies the area around Chesters Roman Fort, along the course of Hadrian’s Wall. Chesters is Britain’s best-preserved Roman cavalry fort. You can explore its historical significance from several perspectives: the Chesters Roman Trail takes in Roman remains, the bridge remains point to where the Wall crossed the North Tyne, and the Clayton Museum houses Roman objects and inscriptions. The subject therefore spans the fort and its landscape, as well as structures and museum pieces.

The Chesters Roman Trail

The Chesters Roman Trail takes in bathhouses, bridges, towers and a Roman well. The range of these remains sets it apart from a focus on the fort alone: attention turns to several types of Roman remains rather than a single structure. It is also a peaceful stretch of the Hadrian’s Wall region on the North Tyne. If you would like to include more than the fort in your historical exploration, taking in other remains and the riverside landscape, the trail offers a focus of its own.

Bridge remains and historical context

The first Chesters Bridge was probably built under Hadrian between AD 122 and 130. The dating is explicitly a probable range and does not specify an exact year of construction. The surviving remains of the Roman bridge, over which Hadrian’s Wall crossed the North Tyne, are visible on both banks; they are particularly impressive on the east bank. This makes it possible to consider the bridge’s construction history and its appearance today separately: the dating places the first construction in time, while the visible remains make its connection with the Wall and river tangible.

The collection at the Clayton Museum

The Clayton Museum at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum houses a collection of Roman objects and inscriptions. Here, material and written evidence takes centre stage; on the grounds, by contrast, the trail and bridge remains draw attention to surviving structures. These two perspectives complement each other: the collection focuses attention on objects and inscriptions, while the bridge highlights the connection between the Wall and the North Tyne. You can give more time to the museum or to the visible remains, depending on your interests.

Routes to Brunton Turret and the abutment

Parking is available at Chesters Roman Fort for Brunton Turret. From there, you can reach the tower via the Chesters Roman Trail in about a 20-minute walk. This time is an approximate guide for the walk from the fort to the tower; it does not apply to the entire trail or to other points of interest. Check the conditions for this access before setting out. The footpath to Chesters Bridge Abutment runs along the south side of Chollerford Bridge. When planning your route, note the different starting points: the route to the tower starts at the fort and follows the trail, while the route to the abutment starts on the footpath at Chollerford Bridge.

Discover more destinations: Wandylaw, Spittal, Mindrum, Longwitton, Powburn, Prudhoe, Bothal, Ashington.

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