Snippets on Hadrians Wall

Everyone has heard of Hadrians Wall and how it was built to keep the Scots out of England. But the reality is much more complex. We've been reading Alistair Moffat's book "The Wall" and it has turned out to be a much better read than the usual fairly dry and academic works which cover this amazing monument. So a couple of snippets...

First Vindolanda means the "white fort" as apparently the Romans liked to render their buildings and basically whitewash them. There is also the possibility that the wall was either partially or wholly rendered which in turn conjures up the image of an amazing white wall snaking across the ancient british countryside.It would have been totally unique.

Second, yes the wall kept the Scots out ( they weren't scots back then...celts would be a better name). The Wall also separated the tribes from the pennines and lake district from those in the borders. Basically by dividing them it was easier to rule them.