n
Burn, Wallbottle, Heddon on the Wall, Vindobala, Harlow Hill,
Wallhouses, Halton Shields Hunnum, Stagshaw Bank, and so, by a steep
descent, into Chollerford. If the train be taken, it is expedient to
break the journey at Prudhoe to view the ruins of the Castle, built
in the reign of Henry II. The curious old bridge over a ravine is one
of the oldest in the North. From Prudhoe to Corbridge is twenty
minutes or so by rail. The buried city of Corstopitum lies to the
west of Corbridge. There can be traced the Forum, streets, granaries,
baths, and fountain. The excavations conducted during 1908 and the
two following years are deeply interesting. There are Roman altars
and monuments to be seen at Hexham. Close to Chollerford are the
remains of the remarkable Roman bridge over the Tyne. Cilurnum
(Chesters), the largest station on the Wall, lies on the river bank.
In the Museum by the gates are deposited sculptured stones, vases,
etc., discovered hereabouts. Journeying from Brunton to Limestone
Bank, one finds the fosses and vallum exceptionally perfect. On the
whole there are said to have been about 23 important stations on the
Wall, named as follows:--Segedunum (Wallsend), Pons Aelii
(Newcastle), Condercum (Benwell Hill), Vindobala (Rutchester), Hunnum
(Halton Chester), Cilurnum (Chesters), Procolitia (Carrawburgh),
Borcovicus (House-steads), Vindolana (Chesterholm), Aesica (Great
Chesters), Magna (Carvoran), Amboglanna (Birdoswald), Petriana,
Aballaba, Congovata, Axelodunum, Gabrosentum, Tunocelum, Glannibanta,
Alionis, Bremetenracum, Olenacum, and Virosidum. It is noteworthy
that not a trace of the original names survives in the local
nomenclature of to-day, though the exact position of most of the
stations has been made out from other indications.

It will be seen that one Wall extended from Wallsend on the Tyne to
Bowness on the Solway Firth, a distance of 73 miles. It would have
been about 12 feet high and 6 feet thick, in parts 9-1/2 feet thick.
Probably about 10 years were expended in the building. About 10,000
men would be required adequately to garrison its stations. It is
difficult to believe that it was constructed _de novo_, or all at one
time. Probably a line of stations, suggested by the lie of the
country, existed here before Roman times, which line was extended and
consolidated by successive Roman generals and emperors.

The Wall now bears the name of Hadrian, Emperor from 117 to 138, but
other names asso