14 
the Solway, through Carlisle, along a tributary valley of the Eden 
into that of the Tyne, and so on to Wallsend on the eastern coast- 
This Roman Wall was one long series of castles and stations, many 
of which grew to be important colonies and fortified towns. Besides 
these stations, another series of fortifications carried along the 
sea-coast to the west the same defence against the Scots which the 
Wall provided on the north ; whilst again another batch protected 
the network of military roads which converged from all parts upon 
Carlisle. 
There was a very obvious necessity for the great number of 
fortified places in this locality. Cumberland has always been a 
Border county, exposed to raids from external enemies, and needing 
constant protection. In this respect its condition was very different 
from that of the rest of Britain. When the Roman conquest had 
been completed and the early risings finally quelled, the provincials 
of Britain settled down into quiet contentment under the peaceful 
rule of their conquerors. Subdued but not enslaved, and 
accepting gladly the laws and manners of their rulers, they 
were soon admitted to the full rights of Roman citizenship. In 
course of time the need for garrisons and walled cities amongst 
them entirely passed away. A revolt against the rule of Rome 
was out of the question. There might be risings in favour of rival 
candidates for the imperial crown in which the provincials as well 
as the legions took part, but after the First century we find no 
organized attempt to shake off the civilizing yoke of the empire. 
Now this peaceful state of affairs never came about on the Border, 
by the line of the great Wall. Here there was always need of 
powerful garrisons to protect the province from the inroads of a 
restless foe. ‘The Cumbrian fortresses were consequently not like 
those of which we see remains in the south of Britain or along the 
Welsh frontier, or even like those to be found in North Britain. 
They were not manned only for a short while, in one or two cam- 
paigns, until the subjugation of the natives had been accomplished ; 
they were the permanent defences of the country against an ever- 
present foreign enemy. ‘True, an entire province had been subdued 
to the north of Hadrian’s Wall, and a further line of defence erected 
