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The Romans reinforced any existing cultural divide when they constructed Hadrian’s Wall in 122AD

Roman legions marched northwards through Britain between 55BC and 77AD, confidently claiming a complete conquest. However, while southern Britain was gradually Romanised, northern Britain rebelled. Any existing cultural border was well and truly reinforced with the building of Hadrian’s Wall from coast to coast in 122AD. There was another push northwards, resulting in the construction of the Antonine Wall in 142AD, but the legions had to pull back to Hadrian’s Wall in 160AD. It seems the Romans paid the Celtic Votadini to keep the Picts at bay to the north.

Under pressure from many sides, the Romans withdrew from Britain in 410AD. While Hadrian’s Wall is now in ruins, there is still a tangible feeling of being in ‘border country’ while following it. The Celts and Picts suffered as much from internecine strife as they did from fighting each other, and they were both overrun by Angles and Saxons.