After visiting the walls on our trip to London, it sparked an interest in why they were built in first place. So we decided to uptake some further reading, looking at Mary T. Boatwright’s Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire. Though the exact date of the when the walls were built is only an estimate – sometime between 190 and 225 AD – Hadrian’s project of the Hadrian Wall seemed to be what inspired the building of the Roman walls in London. 

Hadrian himself was emperor of the Roman Empire from 117-138 AD, with his reign being marked by his visitations of various cities and his drive to promote Roman unity. He was considered a very effective emperor, with a focus on the well-being of the empire opposed to self-interest and personal glory. 

Hadrian had a great appreciation for Greek culture, and promoted it through urban planning and architecture; influencing the design of temples, theatres, and other public buildings across the empire – not just London (the Empire was massive after all)! 

Boatwright observes, “In many places, the most visible evidence of Hadrian’s impact on urban space is the proliferation of Greek architectural forms and styles.” 

The Hadrian Wall project set the groundwork for the later building of London’s Roman walls sometime between 190-225 AD, and is often attributed to Emperor Severus.  Though not often visited by tourists, so I must say well done for discovering this niche, but extremely important part of London’s history! 😀

The first African Roman Emperor, Septimius Severus, depicted in a bust currently located in Copenhagen. Source: Vagge arcimboldo.

London’s Roman walls symbolise the romanisation of London, which at the time was called Londinium, and the profound impact the Romans had on the population of London. Initially built for defensive purposes, the wall evolved into a powerful symbol of Roman authority and civilization in Britain.

Though it is far from its glory days, remnants of the wall still stand. While at the time the wall was used for defence and fortification, contemporarily it acts as a symbol of London’s history with the Roman Empire, and the major societal developments it catalysed. 

The wall stands as a tangible link to Britain’s Roman past and the legacy of Roman civilisation in London.