The Roman Wall / A historical, topographical, and descriptive account of the barrier of the lower isthmus, extending from the Tyne to the Solway, deduced from numerous personal surveys

by J. Collingwood Bruce

Brand, misled by the early numismatists, conceived that the bridge across the Tyne had been honoured by a commemorative medal. He says—

Two coins appear to have been struck upon the building of two bridges by this emperor; one is doubtless to be referred to that of Rome; may not the other have been intended to commemorate the work we are now considering? One of the bridges marked on these coins has seven, the other five arches. The Tiber being a very inconsiderable river, when compared with the Tyne, we must therefore claim that with seven arches—especially as we find a view of the Pons Ælius at Rome in Piranesi’s collection, without the modern ornaments, where it is represented as consisting of exactly five arches.[^[65]]

Alas! for a theory so beautiful and so grateful to the feelings of Newcastle antiquaries! Mr. Akerman, in his work on rare and inedited Roman coins, has pronounced the relentless verdict—‘The medallion with the Pont Ælius, quoted by the early numismatic writers, is a modern fabrication.’

It is perhaps too much to suppose that all the arches of the mediæval bridge rested upon Roman foundations, but it is more than probable that the piers of the original structure would be at least as numerous as those of its successor. The mediæval bridge had twelve arches.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME PONS ÆLII.

No altar or other inscribed stone has been found to confirm the opinion that Newcastle was the ancient Pons Ælii. Brand was ‘of opinion that the inscriptions belonging to the station of Pons Ælii are all built up in the old keep of the Castle, and that a rich treasure of this kind will some time or other be discovered, lurking in its almost impregnable walls, by future antiquaries.’ May the antiquary never be born that shall behold this treasure! Such evidence is, however, scarcely needed to lead us to the ancient designation of the place. The fact that Pons Ælii occurs in the Notitia between Segedunum and Condercum, and that Newcastle lies between the modern representatives of these two stations, Wallsend and Benwell, is strong presumption in favour of the theory, and the fact that a Roman bridge here crossed the Tyne, renders it almost indubitable. This structure took the name of the Bridge of Ælius, after Hadrian,[^[66]] who was of the Ælian family, and the bridge gave name to the station. The Notitia informs us that Pons Ælii was governed by the tribune of the cohort of the Cornovii, ‘a people,’ says Hodgson, ‘whose name is unnoticed by all the ancient geographers I have access to.’

THE CASTLE OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.

Before leaving the station of Pons Ælii, a reference to the mediæval structure—the Norman keep—which gives the town its modern name, may be allowed. It is the most perfect specimen of Norman castrametation in the kingdom; and a careful examination of its structure will yield a more correct view of the mode of warfare adopted at the time of its erection, and of the mournful condition of society then existing, than the fullest verbal description could give. Within a recent period its passages have been cleared and its portals opened, so as to afford the antiquary an opportunity of examining it thoroughly. The Corporation of Newcastle, whose property it is, have, in this respect, set an example which might with advantage be followed by the national government. To the student of the Wall, however, the collection of Roman antiquities which the castle contains, will be the object of greatest interest. In the number and importance of its altars and inscribed stones, it excels every other museum in Britain. As the Castle contains so many of the spoils of the Wall, it is much to be wished that it could be made the depository of all that have been discovered on the line. Numerous individual objects of interest are scattered over the country, and he who would examine them all must travel several hundred miles, and propitiate the favour of many private gentlemen, as well as public bodies. Documents illustrative of the history of a country may be regarded as the property of the country, so far at least, as to be made easily accessible to all. Pons Ælii is the fitting place to deposit those antiquities of the Wall which cannot be carefully preserved on the spot where the Romans originally placed them.

ROAD TO BENWELL.

The reader will probably now be glad to disentangle himself from the intricacies of Pons Ælii, and to pursue with rapid steps the course of the Wall westward.