Wall Mile 68

Hadrian's Wall stretches from the east to west coast of England and was an important frontier of the Roman Empire. Building of the wall began in AD 122 and took six years to complete it’s 84 mile (80 Roman mile) length. Soldiers were garrisoned along the line of the wall in large forts, smaller milecastles, and intervening turrets. The Vallum, a large ditch with mounds on either side, ran along the south side of the wall, protecting the rear of the frontier. Hadrian's Wall was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Wall mile 68 was originally a turf wall, later replaced by stone. From Milecastle 49 to the western end of Hadrian's Wall on the Solway Firth, the wall was originally constructed from turf, possibly due to the absence of limestone. Subsequently, the turf wall was demolished and replaced with a stone wall.

Wall Mile 68:

• Milecastle 68 (Boomby Gill) - exact location unknown
• Turret 68A - exact location unknown
• Turret 68B - exact location unknown

Scheduled Monument (#1018309): Hadrian's Wall between the east end of Davidson's Banks and road to Grinsdale and vallum between Davidson's Banks and dismantled railway in wall miles 67 and 68

Hadrian's Wall survives as a buried feature throughout the whole of this section with no remains visible above ground. Its course, as depicted on Ordnance Survey maps, is based on MacLauchlan's 1857 survey. The course follows the crest of the river cliff overlooking the River Eden to the north. There was probably no wall ditch along this section as the steep river cliff, which is now being eroded back by the river, would have rendered a ditch here superfluous.

The exact location of milecastle 68 has not yet been confirmed. However, on the basis of the usual spacing, it is expected to be located in the wood to the north of Boomby Gill. Surface remains of robber trenches were noted here in 1972 but these have not been confirmed since.

The exact locations of turrets 67a, 67b and 68a have also not yet been confirmed. On the basis of the usual spacing they are anticipated to lie on the line of the wall at the eastern end of the monument; below the electricity transmission lines which cross Davidson's Banks; and 240m ESE of the Recreation Hall on the road to Grinsdale respectively.

The course of the Vallum is known throughout most of this section, in places as a buried feature, and as a slight intermittent earthwork visible on the ground as a low depression averaging 30m wide. The north mound survives up to 0.5m high at the east end of this section with crossings still evident.

The course of the Roman road known as the Military Way, which ran along the corridor between the Wall and the Vallum linking turrets, milecastles and forts, has not yet been confirmed in this section.

Scheduled Monument (#1014693): Hadrian's Wall vallum between the dismantled railway south of Boomby Gill and the field boundary south east of Mill Beck in wall mile 68

The vallum survives as a buried feature throughout this section. A very slight depression at the west end of this section indicates the line of the vallum ditch. Elsewhere in this section the course of the vallum, shows up as a cropmark visible on the ground and on aerial photographs at certain times of the year.

Scheduled Monument (#1014694): Hadrian's Wall between Grinsdale and the field boundary south of the site of St Andrew's Church, Kirkandrews on Eden in wall miles 68 and 69

Hadrian's Wall survives as a buried feature throughout the whole of this section. Traces of the wall ditch are visible on the ground west of Grinsdale where it survives as a slight depression, up to 0.5m deep. Elsewhere in this section the course of the Wall and the wall ditch are not visible on the surface.

The precise location of turrets 68b and 69a are also not yet confirmed. On the basis of the usual spacing, turret 68b is expected to be located west of Park Farm at Grinsdale, and turret 69a midway between Sourmilk Bridge and where Holme Lane runs closest to the Wall.

The course of the Roman road known as the Military Way, which ran along the corridor between the Wall and the vallum linking turrets, milecastles and forts, has not yet been confirmed in this section.