Gents Mag 1851 part 1 p.151

---

	introduction
	list, 3rd qtr 19th century
	previous page next page
	Gentleman's Magazine 1851 part 1 p.151 so long as the chief posts were well guarded. But the great wall must not be viewed in detached pieces, and compared disparagingly with finer architectural examples which may easily be found. It must be viewed in its entire extent, with its vallum, castra, and outposts, to do justice to the bold conception and admirable completion of this stupendous barrier. The Pfahlgraben, in Germany, is a very similar work, twice the extent, we believe, of the Picts' wall, and probably of contemporaneous origin. And here we may direct attention to the advantage of studying continental antiquities simultaneously with those of our own country. One of the greatest achievements of the Society of Antiquaries was that of sending its draftsman, the late Mr. Charles Stothard, to Bayeux to copy the celebrated tapestry preserved there, and afterwards engraving and publishing it; and we think the Society might, profitably, depute some one or two of its members to make a careful survey of the Pfahlgraben with a view to illustrate the analogous monument of our own land. Mr. Bruce having given a very full description of the wall as it exists at the present day, together with the stations in rotation, and the inscriptions and other antiquities found in and about them, proceeds to discuss the question of who was the builder of the wall. Popularly it is called the wall of Severus. Antiquaries have been divided in their opinions respecting its date, some assigning it to Hadrian, others to Severus, while the same conflicting theories prevail with regard to the date of the vallum or turf wall which runs parallel with the stone wall to the south. The testimony of ancient writers Mr. Bruce weighs with an impartial hand; but it is chiefly on the remains themselves, on the course of the vallum and its peculiar connexion with the wall, and, mainly, on inscriptions, that he forms his belief that both works are coeval, and are to be ascribed to the genius of Hadrian; to Severus he gives the credit of making the repairs which time and the enemy had rendered necessary. list, While the great castra on the Littus Saxonicum have not supplied us with a single inscription, except the stamps on tiles found at Lymne,* along the line of the wall a great variety have from time to time been discovered, and are yet occasionally brought to light. They include many of historical importance, identifying the ancient names of the stations, and showing what soldiers were qtred in them at particular periods. Among them we find numerous auxiliary bodies from foreign countries. Nowhere do we see mention made of the Britons; but in Germany are similar records, which show that Britain contributed her share of support to the Roman legions stationed in that province, as, for example, the two inscriptions cited in our last number (pp.48,49.) None of the inscriptions found on the line of the wall, it is remarkable, are of a very late date, and Mr. Bruce correctly notes that not one bears any allusion to Christianity. That represented on the annexed cut is of comparatively
	* Antiquities of Richborough, Reculver, and Lymne, p.258.
	next page
	gazetteer links
	-- Hadrian's Wall

Lakes Guides menu.

---