Hadrian’s Wall was a small part of the thousands of miles of Roman frontiers, but presents the most magnificent spectacle. Its 90-mile length was conceived on a grand scale, with a stone wall 10 Roman feet thick and 15 high, and has been the subject of research for four centuries. There is, however, one aspect which has never been studied in detail: the practicalities of how it was actually built.

This book examines every aspect of the work needed to construct the Wall, and analyses all the building operations including quarrying, stone dressing, transport and scaffolding. It is presented in a form accessible to the interested layman as well as to the student, and among other new conclusions throws light on the attitude of the Roman army to the work.

Peter Hill served an apprenticeship as a stone mason at York Minster, including setting-out to full-size. After several years as Clerk of the Works at Lincoln Cathedral he has worked as an independent consultant, covering both the repair and conservation of historic buildings and the assessment of excavated masonry. His doctorate is on the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, and in 2005 he was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.