What Newcastle looked like in the Roman times. In the 2nd century AD the Roman Empire under the direction of Hadrian established a series of fortifications along the frontier of Caledonia (Scotland), thus known as Hadrian's wall. Among the fortifications built to defend the wall was the settlement of Pons Aelius, which we now know as Newcastle Upon Tyne. The town connected to the Roman settlement of Eboracum through the road known as Dere Street. | SGM: North East News