Hexham in Northumberland, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

The Milestone

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 20, 2018

1. The Milestone Marker

Inscription.

The Milestone. . The Milestone. Three hundred yards to the north of this place, at the side of the Stanegate road, stands the only Roman milestone from Britain to survive intact in its original position (although without an inscription). , This replica milestone shows what its predecessor might have looked like when erected in AD 121, the year before Hadrian came to start the Wall building. , Latin text: IMP CAES TR HADRIANO AVG PM TR P V COS III PP A CORIS MP XX, Text with abbreviations expanded: IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) TR(aiano) HADRIANO AVG(usto) P(ontifici) M(aximo) TR(ibuniciae) P(otestatis) V CO(n)S(uli) III P(atri) P(atriae) A CORIS M(illia) P(assuum). Translation:. For the Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, in his fifth (term of) Tribunician power, Consul thrice, Father of the Fatherland: from Coria (Corbridge) twenty thousand paces (= 20 Roman miles). , A milestone with a similar text could very well have been erected on the Stanegate at Vindolanda. Milestones not only served the useful purpose of giving distances to the next important place, but they also demonstrated that road-building or repair work had been carried out, and they had a propaganda function, publicising the name of the Emperor. , There is evidence to prove that in several of the Provinces that Hadrian visited, the governors had taken steps to get the roads into good repair a year or two before he arrived. The governor of Britain at this time was Quintus Pompeius Falco, a personal friend of Hadrian, and he must have made preparations of this kind. , It is virtually certain that Hadrian stayed at Vindolanda when he came to inspect the start of Wall building in AD 122. Not only was it the best place from which to inspect the central sector of the Wall, but an elaborate building was found in 1993 which dated to the period of his visit. Important evidence has come from one of the writing tablets, in which an un-named man who had been severely beaten by centurions drafted an appeal - including the words "I implore your Majesty”. He obviously expected that Hadrian would be coming, and that he could petition the Emperor for redress.

The Milestone Three hundred yards to the north of this place, at the side of the Stanegate road, stands the only Roman milestone from Britain to survive intact in its original position (although without an inscription).

This replica milestone shows what its predecessor might have looked like when erected in AD 121, the year before Hadrian came to start the Wall building.

Latin text:
IMP CAES
TR HADRIANO
AVG PM TR P V
COS III PP
A CORIS
MP XX

Text with abbreviations expanded:
IMP(eratori) CAES(ari)
TR(aiano) HADRIANO
AVG(usto) P(ontifici)
M(aximo) TR(ibuniciae)
P(otestatis) V CO(n)S(uli)
III P(atri) P(atriae)
A CORIS M(illia) P(assuum)
Translation: For the Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, in his fifth (term of) Tribunician power, Consul thrice, Father of the Fatherland: from Coria (Corbridge) twenty thousand paces (= 20 Roman miles).

A milestone with a similar text could very well have been erected on the Stanegate at Vindolanda. Milestones not only served the useful purpose of giving distances to the next important place, but they also demonstrated that road-building or repair work had been carried out, and they had a propaganda function, publicising

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the name of the Emperor.

There is evidence to prove that in several of the Provinces that Hadrian visited, the governors had taken steps to get the roads into good repair a year or two before he arrived. The governor of Britain at this time was Quintus Pompeius Falco, a personal friend of Hadrian, and he must have made preparations of this kind.

It is virtually certain that Hadrian stayed at Vindolanda when he came to inspect the start of Wall building in AD 122. Not only was it the best place from which to inspect the central sector of the Wall, but an elaborate building was found in 1993 which dated to the period of his visit. Important evidence has come from one of the writing tablets, in which an un-named man who had been severely beaten by centurions drafted an appeal - including the words "I implore your Majesty”. He obviously expected that Hadrian would be coming, and that he could petition the Emperor for redress.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1993.

Location. 54° 59.468′ N, 2° 21.439′ W. Marker is in Hexham, England, in Northumberland. Marker can be reached from road 68, 4 kilometers north of England Route A69, on the left when traveling north. Located

The Milestone and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 20, 2018

2. The Milestone and Marker

at Vindolanda Roman fort and village archaeological site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hexham, England NE47 7JN, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. S.P.Q.R. (a few steps from this marker); Chesterholm Museum (a few steps from this marker); Roman Pottery Kiln (a few steps from this marker); Vindolanda Inscriptions (within shouting distance of this marker); Dolichenum (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Workshops (about 180 meters away); The Severan fort (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Severan Circular Huts (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hexham.

Also see . . . Vindolanda on Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 15, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.