It became home to people from many different cultures. Soldiers from all corners of the Roman Empire were stationed here. From Flemish to Syrian; Spanish to Northumbrian – there was a diverse community of people living, working and trading along the Wall.
Today, the epic structure stretches 80 miles from the Solway Coast in Cumbria to Wallsend near Newcastle upon Tyne, cutting through rural communities, wild landscapes and city suburbs.
In 2020, the National Trust is partnering with D6: Culture in Transit, on a new project called Contested Desires.
Contested Desires is a multi-national project supported by Creative Europe bringing together communities, groups and individuals around historic sites to discuss our shared colonial heritage and explore common ground through art and co-production.
Working with resident artists, community groups and other organisations in the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, we will explore stories of past and present migration, contemporary relevance and how our shared colonial heritage has shaped the North East over centuries.