Four miles east of the end of Hadrian’s Wall, Arbeia Roman Fort, in South Shields, guarded the entrance to the River Tyne. Built around AD160, the stone fort played an essential role in the mighty frontier system. Originally built to house a garrison, Arbeia soon became the military supply base for the 17 forts along the Wall. Today, the excavated remains, stunning reconstructions of original buildings and finds discovered at the Fort combine to give a unique insight into life in Roman Britain.