Alan H and the Luminous Joan in Scotland-Roman Walls

[Alan H]

Technically these are not kilt pictures because I'm not wearing a kilt in any of them. However, I hope the mods will let this slide due to the stunning quality of the photography. **cough, cough**

When I was a boy, I read practically everything that Rosemary Sutcliff wrote. Some books I checked out from the Jr High Schoo library, 6, 8 times. I read her book, "Knights Fee" FOURTEEN times and as an adult was thrilled to find it in our local used bookstore - the same jacket cover, even. It was Rosemary Sutcliff's books that brought ancient Britain and Scotland to life for me. So it was terribly poignant for me to visit the Antonine Wall and Hadrians Wall.





Seabegs Wood is a peaceful place.....now. Joan loved it. We had it to ourselves until an older gentleman came along, walking his dog.



Sorry, no kilt....I'm in Scotland, fer hevvin's sake!

[Alan H]

We drove up to Seabegs Wood from Edinburgh, it was the first stop in a terribly busy day and it was hard to tear ourselves away from that lovely place. However, we moved on, stopping at the Falkirk Wheel (another photo thread) and then to Watling Lodge, for more views of the wall, and communing with the memory of Roman spirits in Scotland.



Again, sorry...no kilt.







Close your eyes and understand that two thousand years ago, when you stood HERE, it was the end of the Civilized World. Now, there are trees that filter the view of the valley ahead of you. 1900 year ago, they were gone, harvested to build the palisade on top of the wall. You could see about a mile in front of you, to where the wood started again. Out there were Barbarians. Celts. Caledonians...savage people who would kill you without thinking twice. You lived on the edge of the World, if you served on the Wall, and the chances were good that you weren't even of Roman heritage, you were descended from a Roman prisoner of war who had no option but to "become" Roman, or you were a local conscript. Seriously.... but the people out there, in the dark beyond the Wall, didn't care.

[Alan H]

Hadrians Wall

Not many people know of the Antonine Wall, and I only know of it because of Rosemary Sutcliffs books. But LOTS of people know about Hadrians Wall. Again, that site is *alive* for me because of her books. Go read "The Mark of the Horse Lord" and learn about the Romans and the Dalriata people, about 400 AD. Read - give her books to the young people in your life:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/891...ritain-trilogy

To understand more about the Antonine Wall, go see the movie "The Eagle" which is really set, there.

Anyway.....here is Hadrians Wall, on a rainy early afternoon. I was glad it rained. The wall is build along a huge geological feature that crosses the UK a bit south of the Scottish Borders. Technically, all these pictures are in England, now. The geological fault creates some pretty spectacular rifts and crags, which you can see clearly in these photos. Of course, not ALL of the wall was built atop the very edges of these crags. Building Hadrians Wall was a MONSTROUS undertaking.



These are barracks or storage rooms at Milefort 37. There were BIG fortresses every 10-12 miles or so along Hadrians wall, where 800-1,000 soliders were stationed. Below those were towns where the soldiers families lived.



Joan at Milefort 37. Look at the arch of stones. Now, extrapolate the arch and add 5-6 feet above it. That's how tall the Wall was, when it was complete.

[Alan H]

I imagined that this rainbow was for Rosemary Sutcliff.....Rosemarys Rainbow. Rosemary Sutcliff passed away about a decade ago.

Much love, Rosemary. You changed my life.

Love,

Alan



And OF COURSE -- there are sheep everywhere. Even behind Hadrians Wall, where they are safe from the ghosts of marauding Caledonians, from 2,000 years ago.



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Hope you enjoyed this one!

[cessna152towser]

Excellent pics Alan.

[Alan H]

It was because of your encouragement to lodge in Hawick, and your comments two years ago, that getting to Hadrians Wall was no big deal from Hawick, that got us to stay there, Alex! I'm totally serious. So thank you!~

[Carlo]

Great pics Alan.
You might enjoy this BBC documentary about Rome's Final Frontier.

I quite enjoyed Hadrians Wall back when I visited. It really is impressiv what they did there.

[TheOfficialBren]

If I'm not mistaken a scene from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (the poaching scene) was filmed at the Antonine Wall. Thank you for sharing, Alan. Very cool.

[Steve Ashton]

Hey Bren,

No sorry the scene from "Robinhood Prince of Thieves" was filmed on Hadrian's Wall at Lat/Long

55° 00' 12.87" N 2° 22' 26.24" W

Only 1.5 miles from where Alan took the pictures of Milecastle 37.

In fact Alan took a picture of the spot.

Look at post #3. The first pic.
See the far end of the lake. There is a break in the escarpment right there and that is where the tree used in the movie is.

[Ron Abbott]

'The Wall - Rome's Greatest Frontier' by Alistair Moffat is well worth a read if interested in Hardian's Wall.