"New Blog on Hadrian's Wall" Topic

Started a new blog on the history of Hadrian's Wall and border area which some people may find of interest. I'll also soon be including pictures of some new models and terrain projects which I'm working on.

link

All the best for 2011.

Paul Darnell

bookmarked, thank you and a Happy New Year to you!

Marked! Very nice looking site BTW!

Nice!!!!!!!!! My wife and I where there in 1997. Very nice to visit and the countryside. Cheers Mike Adams

Very nice and great information.
Hey Mike how is your dog doing? I hope that all is well.
Greg

Paul, regarding Thirlwall Castle: the farm at Holmhead Guest House, which the castle overlooks, was built with stones from the castle, and thus includes stones from the Wall.

There are new owners, so I don't know if the same applies today, but the previous lady who operated it with her husband was an enthusiastic amateur historian of all things Roman (and to a lesser degree, Border history). She even was able to get the missus included in a special journalists' tour of Birdoswald, one day while I was taking the train to SELWG! (Roman Britain is all well and good, but missing a wargames show? Inconceivable!)

I (individually) and we had several very pleasant stays there; it makes a very good base for visiting the entire Wall. The prices have gone up a bit, but it has been a few years since we were last there.

Might be worth a reconnaissance to see if the new owners are as knowledgeable as the last--that was really a very strong "selling point" in the past.

link

Allen

Many thanks Guys,

Allen I had met the lady when I used to live up there and your right she was very nice women and very knowledgeable about all things historical to do with the Wall and borders.

I'm aiming to get back up there more often now that I've started the blog, so I'll have to take a look whose running things now.

I guess the house benifited from not only having the Wall near the house for useful building stones, but also Thirlwall castles south facing wall which fell into the stream right in front of their house.

Those were the days!

Thanks again

Paul

Great Blog…full of interesting stuff I never knew before. I like the one about the coin.
Cheers
Paul

My first visit to Holmhead, I was conducting a reconnaissance prior to bringing the missus over. Unfortunately, it was in late January. I wound up slogging through four or five inches of snow, towing a huge roll-aboard case, from the bus stop at Greenhead, across the wee bridge, and down the track at the edge of the field (as you may recall): at least half a mile, with the snow still falling! Got to hike up to Carvoran in the ice and slush, as well. Great fun.

I see there's another B&B there at Greenhead now, called the Four Wynds Guest House; but I don't know anything about it.

ALlen

If you ever want a more relaxed walk, or crawl around it, drop me a line as I'll be up there a lot more now.

Although I'm getting on a bit now so you may have to carry me some of the way, or we could take turns.

Cheers Paul

Good to see Paul and well done. I used to live on the Wall some thirty years ago.

Hanibalgreg, The dog is doing great!! Mike

"Although I'm getting on a bit now so you may have to carry me some of the way, or we could take turns."

*You're* getting on a bit? We'd have to hire litters and bearers!

Some of my favorite photos are ones I took of the missus on our various trips to the Wall and other sites: with her looking extremely wind-blown, hiking uphill to Chew Green camp; the expression on her face when I told her it's a half-mile uphill to Housesteads from the car park; the question, "OK, now we've tromped all over Vindolanda; and the museum is WHERE?"

These days, if she were to go again, she really would need assistance, as her mobility is impaired. I'd have to look into that.

Thanks,

Allen