Roman Antiquities - Tyne & Wear

Museum of Antiquities
University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The Museum of Antiquities is the main museum for the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall with artefacts, including inscriptions and sculpture, from all the excavated sites along the line of the Wall and the Stanegate, as well as the outpost forts and the hinterland forts.

The Roman Gallery houses Masterpieces of Roman art which include the Birth of Mithras stone from Housesteads, featuring the earliest depiction of the signs of the zodiac found in Britain, the Aesica brooch, the Aemilia finger-ring and the enchanting South Shields Bear Cameo. Displays include a model of the whole of Hadrian's Wall as well as forts, milecastles, turrets, etc. There is also a full size reconstruction of the Temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh and life size figures of Roman soldiers. The Museum also covers all periods from the early prehistoric up to 1600 AD with particular emphasis on the immediate pre and post Roman periods.

The Museum, which is owned & run by the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is approximatly one mile north of Hadrian's Cycleway - NCN 72.

For location of Museum Click Here

For Museum Web Site Click Here

Reconstructed section of Hadrian's Wall - Wallsend

In AD122 the Emperor Hadrian ordered a mighty frontier system to be built across Britain to defend the Roman Empire from the barbarians to the North.

Segedunum Roman Fort stood on the banks of the River Tyne, the last outpost of Hadrian's Wall. For almost 300 years Segedunum, which means 'strong fort', was home to 600 Roman soldiers.

This newly opened Roman experience has immediately become one of the leading attractions along the wall. Now in the heart of the urbanised sprawl of greater Newcastle, Wallsend was, as its name implies, the last stop on Hadrian's Wall.

Recent excavations have revealed much of the old Roman fort here and, as well as viewing the foundations on the ground, you can now take to the skies in a soaring air-traffic-control-type tower to get a real overview of what went where and how everything interconnected.

There is a great interactive 'museum' with lots to do, as well as see, in order to understand how the Roman army lived and worked. The central area imitates the courtyard of the excavated headquarters building with the Imperial Chapel and treasure room at one end.

The model of the fort in the centre allows you to view each street exactly as it would have been and a computer screen takes for a walk right down them! There is a good shop and excellent cafe.

Don't miss out on the full-scale working reconstruction of a Roman bath-house, based on the one at Chesters, over at the far side of the site though. It's quite incredible. Watch out in the Caldarium. Phew! It's hot.

Remains of Hadrian's Wall and a replica section can be seen outside the fort on the other side of Hadrian's Road.
The remains on both sides of the cycle track are those of the spur wall that ran between the fort and the river.

Segedunum is also the start of the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail to Bowness on Solway at the other end of Hadrian's Wall.

Click Segedunum logo to view official web site for the museum.

Remains of Wall between Fort & River Tyne
Viewed looking eastbound on NCN 72
with Bath House in background

Reconstructed West Gate - Arbeia Roma Fort - South Shields

Arbeia means "The Place of the Arabs" - which is possibly the origin of calling people from South Shields "Sand Dancers". Troops stationed at one time here came from the River Tigris area (now Iraq) who must have found the climate somewhat different.

Situated beyond the easternmost point of Hadrian's Wall, Arbeia Roman Fort stood guard at the mouth of the River Tyne. Built in AD 160s, the stone fort at South Shields played an essential role in the mighty frontier system which stretched across the width of the country, marking the northern boundaries of the Roman Empire. Occupied for almost 300 years, the fort controlled the main port of entry to the Roman Empire in Britain. Originally built to house a garrison, it soon became the military supply base for the forts along the wall.

Reconstructed Roman Buildings
Arbeia is the only Roman Fort in the UK where you can see reconstructions of a gateway, Commanding Officer's house and barrack block in the country. These stunning reconstructions are based on archaeological evidence unearthed here and at other forts in the Empire and have been rebuilt on their original foundations.

West Gate
The reconstructed gate into the fort features a display of the history of the site from prehistoric times to the present day and includes models of the fort and also a Roman armoury. The stone used to reconstruct the gate came from the same quarry in Gateshead that the Romans used.

Commanding Officer's House
The fourth century Commanding Officer's house has been partially rebuilt and has been fitted out with authentic furniture and fresco paintings. The Roman rooms which visitors can enter include a summer dining room, the Commanding Officer's bedroom and the porter's lodge.

Barrack Block
A third century barrack built using traditional Roman techniques. A number of rooms are open to show how Roman soldiers lived, eight men to an apartment, and features beds and the equipment they would have used, as well as revealing the methods of construction used in the rebuilding.

Entry to the Fort and Museum is free - £1.50 for the Time Quest
Click Arbeia logo above to view official web site.

Click logos to visit the official web sites