It has long been a question whether there was not originally a turf-wall right across the island, thrown up hastily to mark out the course of the Stone Wall, and as a temporary defence, and then gradually replaced by the Stone Wall. The presence of a piece of turf-wall, more than a mile long, between Birdoswald and Wallbowers, running north of the Vallum and south of the Stone Wall, has to be accounted for; and for two reasons it seems probable that this was only a temporary structure: first, because there is no carefully-laid stone foundation under the turves, as is the case with the Antonine Wall; secondly, because no military way accompanies it, and the Romans always had a road accompanying their fortifications.
Mr. Simpson thinks this particular stretch represents a mistake in the laying out of the works, because it is so close to the Vallum that a mile-castle could not have been built at the usual position: which mistake was corrected by the Stone Wall, but the fruits of which it was not thought necessary to remove.
Or—another theory—this turf-wall may have been a temporary local barrier, thrown up during some interruption of the building of the Stone Wall. It is certain that the turf-wall is the earlier, for where it ends, at Wallbowers, its ditch goes under the Stone Wall, and had to be filled up when the Stone Wall was built.
CHAPTER V
THE WALK: WALLSEND TO WALBOTTLE
I decided to begin my walk at the Newcastle end because I thought it would be the least interesting part, and I wanted to get it over. However, it proved far more interesting than I expected.
I reached Newcastle from King's Cross at five o'clock on a May morning, and, booking my luggage, I started off at once, knapsack on back, for Wallsend.
The sun had risen, and though the houses hid it, rosy clouds that faced me proclaimed its presence as I turned eastwards.
Along Collingwood Street I went, across Pilgrim Street, then under the railway-arch which crosses City Road; and there, on my right, were the ruins of the old Sallyport gateway, which stand near—if not on—the line of the wall.