A fragment of Hadrian's Wall has been unveiled in a field at Houghton, near Carlisle

As historians were getting ready to celebrate 1900 years of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site taking place today, a little-known section of Hadrian's Wall running between Tarraby and Houghton, was unveiled on Saturday.

The new fragment of Hadrian's Wall lies in a 23-acre field purchased in November 2020 by well-respected farmer, Susan Aglionby, who pledged the land would remain in the family and would never be built on.

"My son is a historian and he said the field will stay in the family. There will not be 200 little houses built in this field," Susan said.

The land is adjacent to Susan's Farm, a Care Farm, a registered education charity, undertaking education for all ages and caring for some of the most vulnerable in the local community.

"This is very exciting for us," added Susan.

Educational visitors to the farm will have an opportunity to study the layers of history represented in this fragment named by David Breeze as the “disappearing ditch", together with the regenerative farming that has begun to be practised on the field, already divided into five, to allow for rotational grazing.

HADRIAN'S Wall 1900: Guests watch the unveiling of new information panels

The farm has been organic since 2003 and accredited “Pasture for Life” for the last two years.

Interpretation boards were unveiled by Professor David Breeze, an expert on the Roman Wall and Warren Allison, the president of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.

Professor Breeze told a watching crowd of invited guests that he had first became aware of the site of archaeological importance a year ago.

He said: "It was from someone I had never heard of and they told me they had just bought this field and it had a piece of Hadrian's Wall on it.

INFORMATION boards describing new 'find'

"We believe a Medieval droveway ran along the top of the upcast mound adjacent to the ditch and line of the Wall. Some of the fragments of the hedges which formerly lined it are still visible. It was probably used to drive animals from farms to towns and villages."

Warren Allison said this was one of the first events as part of the 1900 celebrations. "We are grateful to Susan for her generosity to preserve this piece of history for future generations."

Throughout 2021, the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership has been rallying the troops to bring together a festival which celebrates 1900 years of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.

A BIRD'S eye view: Photos Stuart Walker, Stuart Walker Photography

Hadrian’s Wall 1900 has worked with local interest societies, individuals, community groups, visitor attractions, artists and cultural organisations to encourage them to join in the celebration and deliver their own activity to make up the year-long programme of events.

With activities celebrating life on the Wall from Roman times to the present day, this yearlong festival promises to whisk you back in time and celebrate 1900 years since the building of Hadrian’s Wall.