A once in a lifetime event

Artist's impression of what Hadrian's Wall will look like on 13 March 2010 as the beacons are lit.

On the evening of Saturday 13 March 2010, Hadrian's Wall will be illuminated by around 500 individual beacons of light over the course of sixty minutes. There will be individual beacons, placed at 250 metre intervals, along the 84 mile route of Hadrian's Wall. The first one will be illuminated at Wallsend in the North East, with the line of light then making its way along the Wall to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria over the following hour.

Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is an ambitious project led by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, which forms part of a series of festivals being presented by Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts. Linda Tuttiett, Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, says: 'In partnership with local people, we wanted to do something really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain’s longest and greatest piece of heritage and celebrate the landscape along Hadrian’s Wall. What could be more spectacular than a line of light that will stretch from coast to coast illuminating this stunning World Heritage Site?'

The plan is to create a point of light where all the mile fortlets and turrets along Hadrian's Wall were located, with an additional point of light between each of them. A camera crew will film the line of light as it makes its way from coast to coast from a helicopter and the pictures will be beamed to giant screens as part of two major events in the north east and at Carlisle to celebrate the illumination of Hadrian’s Wall. There will also be a number of points along the Wall where people will be able to view the line of light.

Hadrian’s Wall formed the Roman frontier across the north of England for almost 300 years. It was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian. In 1987 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2005 became part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site. Today it attracts visitors from all over the world.

For further information about this 'Once in a lifetime event' visit www.illuminatinghadrianswall.com. Also look out for leaflets in tourist offices around the country.

11 December 2009