ABSTRACT
Hadrian's visit to Britain in ad 121 or 122 came early in his protracted tour of the Provinces. He was responsible for a complete reassessment of the military occupation, which resulted in the creation of a permanent linear frontier in the north. In taking this action, Hadrian to some extent gambled on continued peacefulness, after military control had been removed from potentially troublesome areas. The areas in question, which were now thought ripe for local self-government and formal constitution, were in south Wales, the civitas Silurum and the civitas Demetarum, and in north England, the civitas Parisorum and the civitas Brigantum. Early in the Hadrianic period, the long-vacant fort was reoccupied for a brief spell, possibly in connexion with troop movements between the Humber and the Tyne and possibly also in anticipation of the next stage of development, which saw both fort and stores depot removed and a defensive circuit erected on a new and much extended line.
