YEAR-LONG PARTY FOR OUR WALL
ONE of Northumberland’s most famous landmarks will mark a significant anniversary with 12 months of celebrations next year.
The construction of Hadrian’s Wall, the 73-mile long frontier of the Roman empire, is thought to have begun in 122 AD – meaning, in 2022, parts of it will have stood for 1,900 years.
Designed to “separate the Barbarians from the Romans” (according to a Roman biographer) the shore-to-shore wall protected the empire for nearly 300 years. The wall stretches from Wallsend to Bowness-onSolway, in Cumbria, with the largest part of it running through Northumberland.
Starting at the end of January, the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 festival will mark the start of building works, which took at least six years, according to English Heritage.
Organisers says a “packed programme” of events and activities will take place throughout 2022, including exhibitions, lectures and film screenings. People will be invited to take part in workshops, walks and creative projects; and experience the stunning landscape around the wall through creative installations and events.
The year-long festival, being coordinated by Hadrian’s Wall Partnership in collaboration with local people and organisations, is designed to “bring communities and visitors closer to the people that have lived and worked along the Wall from preRoman times to the present day”. Individuals, groups, venues and organisations along the length of the World Heritage UNESCO site are being invited to plan their own celebration to be included in the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 programme. Inclusion in the festival is open to anyone, with people invited to “explore and demonstrate what Hadrian’s Wall means to them”.
Lady Jane Gibson, chair of Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, said: “We are thrilled to be announcing our year-long festival to commemorate Hadrian arriving in northern Britain to oversee the construction of his Wall. 2022 will be a year of anniversaries but no other festival will be celebrating 1,900 years of continuous history of a place and its people.
“The communities living around the Wall now have one of the world’s most famous landmarks in their fields, villages, towns and cities and we want everyone to be involved in celebrating not just the history under their feet but the international importance of World Heritage today.
“From Hadrian’s birthday on January 24 to Saturnalia on December 23, 2022 will be the year of Northern Britain.”
Councillor Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County
Council, added: “Hadrian’s Wall 1900 is set to be an exciting programme with our communities living along the wall at the heart of the activities.
“This is an opportunity for residents and groups to come together and celebrate how the Wall has shaped our great county and we encourage all those communities to get involved. As well as this event we also have the Lindisfarne Gospels returning to the region next year, so 2022 is a real opportunity for Northumberland to further raise its profile as a visitor destination of choice.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the festival is asked to submit ideas at hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/hadrianswall 1900/getinvolved
Ideas do not need to be fully formed at this stage, but organisers will be responsible for the overall delivery of events and activities including funding, audience management and health and safety, and additional marketing.