‘We need to celebrate it’: Newcastle seeks its place on Hadrian’s Wall trail

Rob Higgins, a councillor for Benwell-Scotswood, stands with his dog, Daisy, on the remains of the Denton Turret, which forms part of Hadrian’s Wall. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Guardian

Paula Robinson lives on a neat suburban cul-de-sac of 1930s houses that also contains the remains of a gateway to a mighty Roman fort once occupied by the Asturian cavalry regiment from northern Spain. Around the corner is the Temple of Antenociticus.

Last year archaeologists found ancient pottery and deer bones in Robinson’s garden, which is close to one of Newcastle’s busiest roads, West Road. Exciting but not totally surprising as the house is on the site of Condercum, a huge hilltop outpost of Hadrian’s Wall.