Emperor Hadrian gave the command to construct a strong border system around Britain in AD 122 in order to protect the Roman Empire from the barbarians to the north.

The end product was Hadrian's Wall, a 73-mile wall that ran from the Solway Firth in the west to the River Tyne in the east. Built as a "Strong Fort," Segedunum could accommodate up to 600 Roman soldiers and was intended to guard the easternmost point of the Wall. It served as a fortification against barbarian attacks and a symbol of Roman power for about 300 years.

Segedunum is now a significant Hadrian's Wall site once more. With the remains of numerous buildings and a portion of the Wall still standing, it is the most thoroughly excavated fort along the Wall. Along with full-scale reconstructions of a bath house and a portion of Wall, there's a sizable interactive museum. The viewing tower, towering 35 metres tall, offers breathtaking views of this World Heritage Site.