As Publius Aelius Hadrianus visited the province Britannia in the year AD 122, he probably ordered the construction of the wall.

Up to this time the towns were combined by a military street from Corstopitum (Corbridge) to Luguvalium (Carlisle). This was complemented by some forts and is called today Stanegate. The Hadrian's Wall was built north of this street considering the geography of the area.

The construction lasted at least 6 years. Legionnaires where activated as "construction workers". Changes to the building still occurred however after the death of Hadrian (AD 138).

First the wall was planned running from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Maia (Bownes-on-Solway). Finally the wall run form Segedunum (Wallsend) to Maia. The length was 80 roman miles (117 km). First the wall from Segedunum up to the river Irthing (at Banna (Birdoswald)) was built of turf blocks. The turrets where of stone. From there to Maia the wall was from earth and the turrets of stone. No wall was built eastern of Segedunum up to the eastern coast. The river Tyne served as a natural frontier. The fort in Arbeia (South Shields) was visible from Segedunum.

On the western side milecastles and turrets were constructed down the coast to Alauna (Maryport). No wall was built here, and, although in some places a fence was constructed.

First there where small forts every roman mile (approx. 1.46 km) on the Hadrian's Wall and two turrets between it. The small forts are known today as milecastles. The milecastles were near the stone wall of stone and near the turf wall from timber and turf. The milecastles were the only ones which had a gate to north. Here the wall could be crossed.

While work was still in progress, changes in the planning were made. Where possibly forts where constructed astride the wall. Every milecastle or turret at this place's where demolished. Furthermore a further ditch was done south of the wall. The so-called Vallum. The earth was heaped up to the north from it to a mound. Presumably this ditch marked a military boundary. Unlike the wall ran this ditch relatively straight, therefore it could show a larger distance to the wall. The Vallum could be crossed only near the forts. The gates at the Vallum crossings could only be opened from north, therefore from the soldiers.

The stone wall was initially planned 3 meters thick and 4.6 meter high. Presumable from reasons of time the width was reduced partial on approx. 2.5 meters. The turf wall was 6 meters wide. At least to the part this turf wall was replaced by a stone wall.

To the north before the wall lay a ditch. This was approx. 7 meters in front of the wall. It was approx. 3 meters deep and 10 meters wide. It showed a V-shaped profile.

To a later time a military street was constructed south of the wall and north of the Vallum.

With the troops at the wall it was not a question of legionnaires but of auxiliary soldiers. Therefore persons without the roman civil right.

The wall was occupied approx. to AD 407. Then the roman soldiers where withdrawn from Britain. From AD 142 the frontier was moved for approx. 20 years - with lower breaks - to the north to the Antonine Wall.

The wall was used in the first place less for the purpose to prevent attacks, as more of the border control. The defense system was however very efficient certainly. Finally this frontier lasted - although it was run some times - over 280 years.