I am in no way entering the modern debate about building walls, but I am interested in history. Since ancient times, walls have been built in many places around the world, to mark borders, protect kingdoms, or keep out enemies. Examples include: The Great Wall of China, The Berlin Wall, The Wall of Ston in Croatia, and others. More recently, walls have also been built as memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC, and the Wall of the Missing at the beautiful Cambridge American Cemetery. While in England recently, my husband and I visited three very different walls.
Hadrian’s Wall
Those Romans built a lot of walls! Around 122 AD, the Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a stone wall to protect Roman Britain from the 
“barbarians” who inhabited northern England and Scotland. The result was Hadrian’s Wall, a 73-mile stone barrier that stretched across England approximately 15 feet tall and dotted with occasional forts. Over a thousand years of erosion and people “borrowing” building materials have reduced it to a fraction of its original size, but many stretches still exist today. We walked along one such stretch on a misty August evening, taking in the remnants of the wall, a fort, and the picturesque tree of “Sycamore Gap.” My imagination began spinning a tale of a young man who lived on one side of the wall, falling in love with a woman on the other…
York City Walls
The ancient Romans also fortified cities. The city of York has been defended by various walls since around 71 AD when it was a Roman colony called Eboracum. Today, York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. My husband and I enjoyed walking around them, taking in the history and views of the city, especially its impressive cathedral, York Minster.
with H. J. Reynolds
We also enjoyed meeting up with a new writer friend for lunch while we were in her beautiful and historic hometown.
The Wall of the Missing
The most poignant wall we visited was the Wall of the Missing at the beautiful, heartbreaking Cambridge American Cemetery. More than 3800 American servicemen and women are buried there, including airmen who died over Europe in World War II and sailors from North Atlantic convoys.
The wall records the names of an additional 5,127 missing Americans, lost in the war. Among them, we found the name of Alton G (Glenn) Miller, the famous big band leader, whose plane went down over the English Channel in 1944 en route to perform a concert for allied troops in Paris.
But we were even more moved by the photographs and stories of the lesser known people who lost their lives. So many. So young. I found myself crying and went into the beautiful chapel to pray.
Heartbreaking as war was and is, I was touched to visit this special place—part museum, part memorial, part church. And thankful to know that these brave Americans who gave their lives will always be remembered in England.
Have you visited any such wall? Please share your experience with us here.
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I have been to Pearl Harbor and stood in front of the memorial wall there . … so moving especially being able to see the ships still underwater where so many remain in a watery grave site. If ever possible, I would love to visit the 9-11 memorial as well.
Oh yes, I can only imagine how moving that must be!
We visited Hadrian’s Wall three years ago. I want to return one summer and hike the whole wall. I love the story idea you mention. Kathy Erskine wrote a wonderful tweener book called Badger Knight about a boy who wants to be an archer in a war between north and south.
Sounds interesting, Karen. Hope you get to hike the whole wall. Be sure and let me know so I can follow your adventure through photographs!
Thanks for sharing these photos and thoughts, Julie! What a trip!
Thank you for posting that photo listing Major Glenn Miller among the missing. It was devastating news to those who loved his music, and especially for all the GIs he entertained. But what a legacy he left behind!
Such interesting pictures and post.
Your pictures from England are lovely!
I grew up in central Minnesota, where there are a number of beautiful stone walls built by the WPA during the 1930’s, such as around Pine Grove Park in Little Falls (one of the few remaining stands of virgin white pine in the state) and the main gates and southernmost border of Camp Ripley.
I visited Hadrian’s Wall (different part from where you went) and York in 2016. Both are incredible places. It would be great if one of the sites that you visited featured in a novel!
In 2010, I saw the Wall of Ston while visiting Croatia. It’s an impressive sight! The wall was built during a turbulent time in Croatian history. The town of Ston is known for its salt production.
In May of this year, I visited a WWII aerial memorial near Dover as part of a day excursion from London. It was a foggy day at the time. Seeing the names of all those who were killed during the Battle of Britain–it was an affecting sight.
Over the years we have visited the first two walls but the Cambridge Wall was new to me. Hope we can check that out someday.
We have also enjoyed exploring walls in Germany over the years.
This was an interesting post. Thank you for sharing it.