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Established by the Romans, Wallsend
takes its name from its location at the eastern end of Hadrian's
Wall. Modern Wallsend, dates from the late-18th century and
was originally a coal mining centre.
The town later became a world
famous centre for shipbuilding. Wallsend was the home of
the Wigham Richardson shipyard which ammalgamated to become
Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson.
One of the most famous ships
produced by this shipyard was the RMS Mauritania. Launched
in 1906, the express liner held the blue ribband for the fastest
crossing of the Atlantic for 22 years.
Today Wallsend has a more diversified
economy, although the River Tyne still provides significant
employment for the town's population.
Wallsend's major tourist attraction
is the Roman fort of Segedunum, the eastern outpost of Hadrian's
Wall. Constructed in AD122, Hadrian's Wall extended from
Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west and
was designed to defend the Roman Empire from the barbarians
to the north.
Segedunum means 'strong fort'
and for 300 years it housed a garrison of 600 Roman soldiers.
Today the Segedunum
Roman Fort, Baths and Museum is the gateway to this famous
World Heritage site. Segedunum contains the excavated foundations
of the fort and a reconstructed Roman bath. The museum displays
items found during the excavations. Part of the original
wall can be seen across the street from the museum.
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Wallsend
