The cutting down of the tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall caused widespread shock. In a positive response to this sad event, David Breeze invited 80 friends and colleagues to offer personal reflections on their favourite view of the Wall, presented here in a visual celebration with photographs and specially commissioned line drawings.
The cutting down of the tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall in September 2023 caused widespread shock in Britain and beyond, and for many was felt as a personal loss. Since its appearance in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991, the tree has become the iconic view of Hadrian's Wall. In a positive response, David Breeze, author of several books on Hadrian's Wall, invited 80 friends and colleagues to nominate their favourite view of the Wall. The views are presented in a visual celebration with photographs and specially commissioned line drawings, each accompanied by personal reflections. The wide-ranging contributions are testimony to the affection many hold for this evocative Roman frontier.
Foreword Introduction The Tale of a Tree: Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall - Jim Crow The Iconic Landscapes of Hadrian's Wall - David Breeze Individual Contributions Before the Wall Hadrian and his Wall Hadrian's Wall from East to West The Cumbrian Coast Soldiers and Sweethearts Religion on the Wall Communication Beyond the Wall Antiquarians and Archaeologists Last Words Envoie Further Reading Acknowledgements and credits List of Contributors
Contributors to this volume:
Marta Alberti, The Vindolanda Trust
Jon Allison, independent researcher
Lindsay Allason-Jones, Royal Archaeological Institute
Amy Baker, Newcastle University
Richard Beleson, San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society
Andrew Birley, The Vindolanda Trust
Barbara Birley,The Vindolanda Trust
Sam Bithnell, Newcastle University
Emanuela Borgia, Sapienza University, Rome
David J. Breeze, Universities of Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Stirling
Richard Brickstock, independent researcher and numismatist
Maureen Carroll, York University
Mike Collins, Heritage England
Rob Collins, Newcastle University
Jon Coulston, St Andrews University
Eleri Cousins, Lancaster University
Alex Croom,Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Jim Crow,Edinburgh University
Eckhard Deschler-Erb, University of Cologne
Christof Flügel, Bavarian Museums Service
Rachel Frame,The Vindolanda Trust
Jane Gibson, Hadrians Wall Partnership Board
Frank Giecco, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology
Erik Graafstal, Municipal archaeologist, Utrecht
Elizabeth M. Greene, University of Western Ontario
Bill Griffiths, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Bill Hanson, University of Glasgow
Ian Haynes, Newcastle University/British School in Rome
Tom Hazenberg, Hazenberg Archeologie
Dave Heslop, Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
Richard Hingley, Durham University
Matthew Hobson, Wardell Armstrong Archaeology/University of Leicester
Nick Hodgson, Durham University
Tatiana Ivleva, Newcastle University
Ian Jackson, British Geological Survey
Rececca H. Jones, Historic Environment Scotland/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies
Paul J. Kitching, Durham University
Jane Laskey, Senhouse Roman Museum
Al McCluskey, Newcastle University
David McGlade, Hadrians Wall National Trail
Lesley Macinnes,Historic Environment Scotland
Frances McIntosh, English Heritage Museums
Alex Meyer, University of Western Ontario
Roger Miket, South Shields Roman fort
Katie Mountain, Pre-construct Archaeology, Durham
Rachel Newman, Oxford Archaeology North
Jürgen Obmann, Bavarian Office for Ancient Monuments
Katy ODonnell, CFA Archaeology
Don OMeara, English Heritage
Iwan Peverett, New Visions Heritage Ltd
Andrew Poad, The National Trust
John S. Poulter, independent researcher
Elsa Price, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Ivana Protic, Belgrade University
Carole Radatto, independent researcher
Mark Richards, author
Pete Savin, independent researcher
John Scott, Hadrians Wall World Heritage Site
William D. Shannon, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society
Avril Sinclair, retired schoolteacher
Rory Stewart, politician and author
Matt Symonds, Current World Archaeology
Graeme Stobbs, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Catherine Teitz, the Vindolanda Trust
Andreas Thiel, State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, Stuttgart/Congress of Roman Frontier Studies
Carol van Driel-Murray, Leiden University
Harry van Enckevort, independent researcher
David Walsh, Newcastle University
Sue Ward, a retired journalist
Humphrey Welfare, Newcastle University
John Peter Wild, Manchester University
Tony Wilmott, Historic England
John Wilkes, London University
Alan Wilkins, specialist in Roman artillery
Pete Wilson, Rarey Archaeology
Rob Witcher, Durham University
