Dr. Francis McIntosh

So spanning the real narrow bit, if you look at a map of Great Britain.

And...

It's unsure quite what height it was along that 80 miles, maybe four and a half metres.

We've not got any single section that stands to its full height.

We look at, you know, what's remaining and also ancient sources.

And then at every mile, which is why I said the Roman mile is important, there was a mile castle.

So simple.

You know, it's a mini fort.

And in between each mile castle, two turrets, evenly spaced.

And that was the original plan.

But then, partway through building, they changed their mind and added the forts in.

So the forts were often the most famous thing, aren't they?

You know, house steds up on the hill or Chester's the cavalry fort.

Yeah, but they were a secondary decision.

And quite often some of those mile castles or turrets I just mentioned had to be demolished for the forts to be put in.

So you can imagine the curses.

Yeah.

Of the soldiers who are building it, because it's soldiers who are building the wall, not brought-in builders.

You know, the higher-ups have changed their minds, haven't they?

And they have to fit that plan.