Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall Visited 20 March 2006     Thanks to AirFotos Ltd for use of this picture at right.  This shows the playing card shape of the fort as we hover looking west.  Hadrian's Wall leads out of the fort at lower right.  The fort sits on a cliff that's part of geologic formation called Whin Sill.

Here's a panorama at ground level of Housesteads Fort -- the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain -- to see this photo in large size (3.6M) click here (and be ready to wait).  Your reaction is probably -- that's complete!  The truth is somewhat buried but has been excavated for the last three centuries. 

The Romans called this fort Vercovicium and for nearly 300 years it helped separate civilization at its south from the barbarian northerners.  While there's not much left here other than piles of rocks and a few museum signs, some of the history of one of the ancient world's most successful institutions, the Roman army, is suggested in the layout of this fort and its buildings.  (A small museum, off to the distance at center left in the above picture, helps too.)

To start the tour click here or jump to any of the topics below:

• Hadrian Wall Overview

• Housesteads Roman Fort Overview

• The Commandant's House

• The Hospital

• The Headquarters Building (Praetorium)

• The Granaries

• The Barracks

• The Gates

• The Civil(?) Settlement (Vicus)

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