To mark the 1,900th anniversary of the building of Hadrian’s Wall, we’re starting a new, four-part podcast series, piecing together the story of Britain’s most famous relic of Roman rule. In this first episode, we’re joined by Properties Historian Dr Andrew Roberts to take a look at the story of Hadrian himself, ahead of the former emperor’s birthday on 24 January. Discover the story of his rise to become the Roman ruler, why he ordered the building of the wall along the northern frontier of the empire, and his vision for it.

To learn more about Hadrian’s Wall and the stories of the sites we care for along it, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall