Wall Mile 16

The monument includes Hadrian's Wall and vallum and associated features between the March Burn in the east and the west side of Oatens Bank, Harlow Hill the west. This section of the Wall runs gently downhill from the March Burn to milecastle 15 before running up a steep gradient to the summit of Harlow Hill. The Wall commands wide views to the north and south along this section, but the undulating terrain to the east and west means that views are restricted in these directions. Hadrian's Wall aims for the high points throughout this section which includes the summits of Eppies Hill and Harlow Hill, unlike the vallum which takes a lower course skirting to the south of Harlow Hill. The Wall survives beneath the B6318 road throughout the whole length of this section.

For more detail on this section see pages: Wall Mile 14 and Wall Mile 15

Milecastle 16 is situated on the crest of Harlow Hill with wide views in all directions. It survives as a buried feature in the field to the south of the road. The only upstanding feature is the scarp on the east side of the reduced platform. The milecastle was excavated by Hepple and Richmond in the 1950s.

The monument includes the section of Hadrian's Wall and its associated features between Oatens Bank, Harlow Hill, in the east and Whittle Dene Watercourse in the west. This section of Wall runs downslope towards the west from Harlow Hill. There is gently rising ground to the north, whereas to the south the ground slopes away.

The Wall survives as a buried feature beneath the B6318 road throughout this section.

The external ditch on the north side of the Wall is silted up for most of this section although traces of its north scarp are still visible about 200m west of Harlow Hill.

The exact location of turrets 16a and 16b has not yet been confirmed.

The exact location of turrets 16a and 16b has not yet been confirmed.

The course of the Roman road known as the Military Way, linking turrets, milecastles and forts, which ran along the corridor between the Wall and the vallum, is not yet confirmed in this section of the corridor. However, during the 1730s Horsley noted its existence a little west of Harlow Hill describing it as `about thirteen foot' in width.

The monument includes the vallum and its associated features between Oatens Bank, Harlow Hill, in the east and Whittle Dene Watercourse (part of the Northern Reservoir) in the west. It follows a straight course along the south side of Harlow Hill and survives as a series of buried features. Its course can be determined by the slight undulations in the arable land which denote the banks and ditches. The banks have been ploughed flat. 

The monument includes the section of Hadrian's Wall, vallum and associated features between the B6309 in the east and the B6321 in the west. The ground slopes gently upwards towards the west throughout this section of the monument. There are wide views to the north, east and south. However, the rising ground to the west restricts the outlook in this direction.

For more details on this section see pages: Wall Mile 17 and Wall Mile 18