Chapter XXVIII: Appendix: No. I (2)

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ITER X. | SITES OF THE STATIONS.
|
(91) Ab ultima Ptorotone per mediam | From Burgh Head through
insulae Isca Damnonorum usque, sic:-- | the middle of the island
| to Exeter.
| _Corrected_ |
| _Numbers._ |
(92) Varis[708] m.p. VIII | | Fores VIIII
(93) Ad Tuessim XVIII | Names and | Cromdall on Spey XX
(94) Tamea XXVIIII | Numerals from | Braemar Castle XXX
(95) --------- XXI | General Roy. | Barra Castle on Ila XXX
(96) In Medio VIIII | | Inchstuthill XII
(82) Orrea VIIII | | Bertha on Tay VIIII
(80) Victoria XVIII | | Dealgin Ross XXIIII
(52) Ad Vallum[709] XXXII | | Camelon XXXII
(74) Luguballia LXXX | | Carlisle CXVIIII
(97) Brocavonacis XXII | XXII | Brougham.
(98) Ad Alaunam ... | XXXXVII | Lancaster.
(99) Coccio ... | XXXVI | Blackrode.
(63) Mancunio XVIII | XVIII | Manchester.
(65) Condate XXIII | XXIII | Kinderton.
(100) Mediolano XVIII | XVI | Chesterton.
(15) Etoceto ... | XXXV | Wall.
--------- | | -----------
(101) Salinis m.p. ... | XXII | Droitwich.
--------- | | -----------
(102) Glebon Colon. m.p. | XXXIIII | Gloucester.
(103) Corino XIIII | XVIII | Cirencester.
(104) Aquas Solis m.p. ... | XXX | Bath.
(105) Ad Aquas XVIII | XX | Probably Wells.
(106) Ad Uxellam amnem m.p.| XXI | Probably Bridgewater.
(107) Isca m.p. ... | XXXXV | Exeter.

The first part of this Iter is taken from General Roy; and as we have none of the intermediate stations between Carlisle and the Wall, every commentator may choose what route he pleases, although none will coincide with the distances of the Itinerary. From Carlisle, if we place any reliance on the numbers, the next station, _Brocavonavis_, can only be fixed at Brougham. Thence the road to the banks of the Lune, as well as the station on it, is uncertain; for, whether we choose Overborough or Lancaster, we know of no road to direct us; and the only reason for preferring the latter is the supposed site of the next station, _Coccium_, at Blackrode, and the course of the road through Lancaster, tending more immediately to that point, than the road through Overborough. The two next stations, _Mancunium_ and _Condate_, as well as the connecting line of road, are well known. From Kinderton, although there is a Roman way pointing to Chesterton in Staffordshire, the _Mediolanum_ of this Iter, and the site of _Etocetum_ is undoubtedly Wall, yet we speak with hesitation of the line of communication betwixt them; though we presume it ran through Newcastle, Stone, and Ridgeley. From Wall, which is on the Watling Street, the Iter continues along the Ryknield Street, through Sutton Colfield Park, to Birmingham. There falling in with the first Salt-Way, it proceeds to Droitwich, and is continued by the Western Road, through Worcester to Gloucester. Here, turning nearly at a right angle, it passes by the well known Roman road over Birdlip Hill to Cirencester; and trending to the right, proceeds by the Foss to _Aquae Solis_ or Bath. Quitting the Foss, and still bearing to the right, it continues along the lower road to Wells, and from thence to _Uxella_, which was probably at Bridgewater. From the banks of the Parret it ran in the track of the British Way, and the present turnpike by Taunton, Wellington, and Collumpton, to Exeter.

* * * * *

ITER XI. | SITES OF THE STATIONS.
|
(104) Ab Aquis, per Viam Juliam, | From Bath by the Julian
Menapiam usque, sic:-- | Way to St. David's.
|_Corrected_|
|_Numbers._ |
(108) Ad Abonam m.p. VI | VI}| Bitton
(109) Ad Sabrinam VI | VIIII}|
Unde Trajectu[710] intras | | Sea Mills.
in Britanniam Secundam | |
(110) Et Stationem | |
Trajectum[711] III | III | Severn Side.
(111) Venta Silurum[712] VIII | VIIII | Caerwent.
(112) Isca Colonia VIIII | VIIII | Caerleon.
Unde fuit Aaron Martyr. | |
(113) Tibia Amne[713] VIII | XV | Banks of the Tanf,
| | possibly Caireu or
| | Caerdiff.
(114) Bovio XX | XX | In Evenny Park.
(115) Nido XV | XX | Near Neath.
(116) Leucaro XV | X | Perhaps Lwghor.
(Muridunum omit. XX) | XX | Caermarthen.
(117) Ad Vigesimum XX | XX | Castel Flemish.[714]
(118) Ad Menapiam XVIIII | XVIII | Near St. David's.
Ab hac urbe per m.p. | |
XXX | |
Navigas in Hyberniam. | |

As the course of the Roman road connecting the stations of this Iter is still discernible, we do not hesitate in correcting the imperfections of Richard by the corresponding Iter of Antonine. At Bitton, six miles from Bath, we find marks of a post attended with _tumuli_, which whether called _Abone_ or _Trajectus_[715] is of little importance, because, like the next, Sea Mills, it will suit either appellation, from its position on the Avon, and commanding a passage over that river. From Bitton the Roman way ran nearly in the direction of the present turnpike, north of the river as far as St. George's church; thence it proceeded straight near St. Paul's; ascended the Downs behind Mr. Daubeney's house to the direction-post, from whence it crossed Durdham Down, and skirted Mrs. Jackson's park wall to Sea Mills, a great maritime post at the confluence of the Trim and the Avon. It continued by Lord De Clifford's house straight to the Severn, crossed that river, and passed by Caldecot Castle through Caerwent and Caerleon to the bank of the Taaf and Evenny Park, which last place Roman remains lead us to conjecture was the site of _Bovium_. At Neath we have also little hesitation in fixing the site of _Nidus_, because a road from the _Gaer_ near _Brecon_ evidently leads to the same spot.

The remainder of this Iter is obscure. _Leucaro_ has been fixed at Lwghor, principally from the resemblance of the name. From thence the road may have run to Caermarthen (_Maridunum_), which appears to have been omitted; and was probably continued as straight as the country would permit to Castel Flemish and St. David's, where we would place the stations _Vigesimum_ and _Menapia_.[716]

* * * * *

ITER XII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS.
(104) Ab Aquis Londinium usque, |
sic:-- |
|_Corrected_|
|_Numbers._ |
(119) Verlucione m.p. XV | XV | Highfield, near Sandy Lane.
(120) Cunetione XX | XV | Folly farm, E. of Marlborough.
(121) Spinis XV | XX | Spene.
(122) Calleva Atrebatum | |
XV | | Silchester.
(123) Bibracte XX}| XXXXIIII | London.
(5) Londinio XX}| |

As the traces of a Roman road from Bath towards Marlborough are still visible, we have only to examine in what points of its course remains have been found sufficient to justify us in determining the sites of the different stations. Accordingly, at fifteen miles from Bath we have Highfield, in Sandy Lane, near Heddington; and at fifteen more Folly Farm, near Marlborough. From hence twenty miles bring us to Spene; and although at this place few remains have been discovered, yet the direction of another Roman road, from Cirencester to the same point, sufficiently proves the existence of a station. Of the site of _Calleva_ at Silchester[717] there can be little doubt; although the course of the road from Spene is uncertain. The road from Silchester, still known by the name of the Devil's Causeway, as it runs over Bagshot Heath, as well as evident traces of it between Staines and London, still exist; but the intermediate station of _Bibracte_ is doubtful. If the numbers in this Iter be correct, we cannot deviate from the straight line, and this post must be placed near the hill at Egham, or the head of the Virginia Water.

* * * * *

The beginning of this Iter cannot be traced, notwithstanding two out of the three stations are well known; and we have little doubt that _Baltrum_ or _Burrium_ was at Usk (though no Roman remains have been found there), because the distance given from Caerleon to _Gobannium_ or Abergavenny will not admit of any deviation from the straight line. From Abergavenny, after passing the Munnow, the Roman road still exists, particularly near Madley, pointing to Kentchester, and from thence may be traced by the next post of Lentwardine on the Teme, to Wroxeter.

* * * * *

This Iter ran, like the former, from Caerleon to Usk, where bending to the right it traversed the country to Monmouth. From hence, although we cannot trace the exact line of the road, yet we have no doubt that it crossed the Wye to the next station at Berry Hill, in Weston, under Penyard; and continued nearly in a direct line to Gloucester. As the author has only left the name of a river for the next station, it must be placed in such a situation on the Avon as to admit the distance of fifteen miles from the next station of Alcester, which was the site of _Alauna_. This would carry it to the westward of Evesham. From Alcester, likewise, till we reach the Foss, we have neither a road nor distance, nor even the name of a station. For this reason we deem ourselves justified in considering the undoubted Roman camp at Chesterton on the Foss, as the post omitted by our author, and from thence we proceed on that known military way to the certain stations of High Cross, Leicester, Willoughby, Bridgeford, Brough, and Lincoln.

* * * * *

This Iter leads from London to the south-west part of Hampshire, and from thence, skirting the Sussex and Kentish coasts, back to the capital.

At the first step the author gives forty-four miles as the distance between London and Silchester, instead of forty, as in the twelfth Iter; hence we may deviate a little in settling the site of _Bibracte_ or _Ad Pontes_. Of the next station we can merely offer a conjecture. As the country of the Atrebates and their capital, _Calleva_ or Silchester, is by our author described as lying near the Thames, in distinction from that of the Segontiaci,[720] whose capital, _Vindomis_, was further distant from that river, and nearer the Kennet, one point only appears to suit the distances, which bears the proper relation to the neighbouring stations, and at the same time falls at the intersection of two known Roman roads. This is in the neighbourhood of St. Mary Bourne, and affords reason for considering Egbury Camp, or some spot near it, as the capital of the Segontiaci. For by following the Roman road called the Portway from Silchester, at the distance of fifteen miles is the rivulet near St. Mary Bourne, and not far from it, the point where the Portway is intersected by the Roman road from Winchester to Cirencester; and proceeding along this last we have another distance of twenty-one miles to Winchester. The road from Winchester by Otterbourne to Stoneham, and thence by the Green Lane to Bittern, is well known, and the distance sufficiently exact. But from thence, although traces of the road are occasionally discoverable on Ridgway, and to the north of Bursledon Hill, pointing towards Fareham and Portchester, yet the latter part is almost totally unknown or lost. From Portchester it ran in the track of the present turnpike to Chichester; and over the Arun not far from Arundel; and then along the coast to Pevensey, the banks of the Rother, Lymne, Dover, Richborough, Reculver, and Canterbury. There falling into the track of the first Iter, it went along the Watling Street to the bank of the Medway, and passing that river, proceeded by Barkfields in Southfleet, a station omitted before, across the country with the ancient Watling Street, (by a road now unknown[721]), to Holwood Hill, the capital of the Regni, and from thence to London.

* * * * *

The exact route from London to Winchester not being defined, we may suppose that it ran, as before, through Silchester, and from thence by St. Mary Bourne, as in the 15th Iter. From Winchester, as the road still exists leading to Old Sarum, the distance of eleven miles will probably give the site of _Brige_, although the station itself is not known; and the nine following will lead us to Old Sarum. Pursuing the course of the road, which may be still traced quite to Dorchester, remains found on Gussage Cow Down point out the site of _Ventageladia_; and the disagreement between the Itinerary and real distance from thence to Dorchester justifies us in supposing that some intermediate post has been omitted. The site of _Moridunum_ is doubtful; some thinking it to be Eggerdon, or the Hill of the Morini, with which the distance of nine miles would not disagree; while others, with more reason, prefer Seaton, the great port of the West, because the Foss leads from Ilchester directly to it. Intermediate stations have evidently been lost between this place and Exeter, as has also been the case between that place and the Dart, the Tamar, the Fowey and the Fal. From Honiton the road is visible pointing to Exeter, as well as from Exeter to Totness, and according to the ingenious Borlase, even to Lostwithiel.

* * * * *

This Iter ran in the track of the British Ermyn Street, from Pevensey and East Bourne, which were perhaps the _Anderida Portus_ and _Anderida_ of the 15th Iter, along the ridge of hills to Holwood Hill (already mentioned as the capital of the Rhemi), and from thence to London, but its traces are now so obscure as to be almost forgotten. Some think that from London it proceeded along the British Street, by the Green Lanes, Cheshunt, and to the west of Broxbourne to Ware; while others suppose that this Roman road went much straighter, and nearly in the course of the present turnpike through Ware to Broughing, a post at the confluence of the Rib and the Quin, where was probably the station _Ad Fines_, the boundary between the countries of the Iceni, the Cassii, and the Trinobantes. From hence the Roman road is so perfect by Caxton quite to Lincoln, that we fix the station of _Durnomagus_ at the great camp near Castor, and the three others at Godmanchester, Ancaster, and Lincoln. From Lincoln the Roman road proceeds directly to the banks of the Humber, having, at the distance assigned in the Iter, the _Mansio in Medio_, and the post at Winterton; from whence six miles carry us across the river to Brough, or _Petuaria_, a post often confounded with the _Praetorium_ of the 6th Iter. As there is a Roman road still existing from Brough towards Weighton, and then over Barmby Moor to York, there can be little doubt in considering it as the course of this Iter. Should, however, the forty-six miles given in the Itinerary (which appears to have been an error arising from the mistake of the transcriber in confounding _Petuaria_ and _Praetorium_) be considered as correct, the course of the Iter may be supposed to have run from Brough by Londesborough and Millington, to the great road from Flamborough, and then to have turned with it to York, making exactly the forty-six miles of the Itinerary.

* * * * *

ITER XVIII. | SITES OF THE STATIONS.
|
(43) Ab Eboraco per medium insulae | From York through the middle
Clausentum usque, sic:-- | of the island to Bittern.
|_Corrected_|
|_numbers._ |
(42) Legiolio m.p. XXI | XXI | Castleford.
(167) Ad Fines XVIII | XXIII | Temple Brough, on the bank
| | of the Don.
(168) ..... XVI | XVI | Tapton Hill near Chesterfield.
(169) ..... XVI | XII | Camp near Penkridge.
(170) Derventione[724] XVI | XII | Little Chester.
(171) Ad Trivonam XII | XII | Berry Farm, in Branston.
(15) Etoceto[725] XII | XII | Wall.
(14) Manduessuedo XVI | XVI | Manceter.
(13) Benonnis XII | XII | High Cross.
(12) Tripontio XI | XI | Near Dove Bridge.
(11) Isannavaria XII | X | Burnt Walls.
(172) Brinavis XII | XII | Black Ground, near Chipping
| | Norton.
(173) AElia Castra XVI | XVI | Alcester, near Bicester.
(174) Dorocina XV | XVI | Dorchester.
(175) Tamesi VI | VI | On the Thames.
Vindomi } | |
(122) _Calleva_ } XV | XX | Silchester.
(141) Clausento XXXXVI | XXXXV | Bittern, near Southampton.

This Iter proceeds from York in the same direction as the fourth to Castleford, where, bearing to the right to join the Ryknield Street, it continues with it through the several stations of Temple Brough on the Don, Chesterfield, Penkridge, Little Chester, and Branston, to Wall. Here diverging to the left with the Watling Street, it passed through Manceter, High Cross, and Dove Bridge, to Burnt Walls. It there quitted the known road, and bore across the country, by an unknown route, to Alcester, on the Akeman street; but the considerable remains found at Black Ground, near Chippington Norton, would lead us to place the station of _Brinavis_ there, if the Roman road did not make any material deviation between Burnt Walls and Alcester.

From Alcester the road runs plainly over Ottmoor, and indeed almost all the way to Dorchester. But from thence as we can discover no traces of a road, and as our next post appears to have been only six miles distant and on the Thames, if any reliance can be placed on the number, it may be the point where the Roman road from Wantage apparently passes that river opposite Mongewell. The next distance of fifteen miles, being insufficient to lead us by any road to _Vindomis_, if it were placed either at Silchester or near St. Mary Bourne, it is more than probable that there is some error in the name of the station; and as the following number of forty-six miles agrees with the distance in the 15th Iter of the road from Silchester passing near Egbury to Bittern, we cannot help supposing that the name of _Vindomis_ has been inserted by mistake for that of _Calleva_.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 685: On this subject it may not be improper to observe, that the name of Castor, Cester, or Chester, generally points out a Roman station; and Sarn, Street, Stane and Stone, (Strat, and Stan, when compounded) as generally show the course of a British or Roman way.]

[Footnote 686: For example these marks , being the mutilated parts of numerals, might have been easily transformed by the copyist into IIIII. XIII. VIII. XVI. XIX. or XXI. and single numerals might have been omitted, as XX. and XXIII. for XIX. and XXXIII.]

[Footnote 687: Near Leicester.]

[Footnote 688: Hist. de l'Academie, t. 88, p. 661.]

[Footnote 689: Burnt Walls was the Roman post of _Isannavaria_; Borough Hill, on the hill above it, was the great British fortification, _Bennavenna_.]

[Footnote 690: Icianis XXVIII. _Stukeley_.]

[Footnote 691: Durolisponte, Iter 17.]

[Footnote 692: Iter 17, XXX.]

[Footnote 693: Corisennis XXX. Iter 17.]

[Footnote 694: Iter 17, XXX.]

[Footnote 695: Legiolio, Iter 18.]

[Footnote 696: Iter 5 and 8, Eburaco.]

[Footnote 697: Cataractone XI.]

[Footnote 698: Probably Corium, _Stukeley_.]

[Footnote 699: Vinovio, Iter 4.]

[Footnote 700: XXXVIII.]

[Footnote 701: This _Praeturium_ and the _Praetonum_ of Antonine must be carefully distinguished from the _Petuaria_, mentioned by our author in the 17th Iter, for _Petuaria_ was certainly at Brough on the Humber.]

[Footnote 702: Iter 10, Mancunio--Condate XXIII.]

[Footnote 703: _Stukeley_, XVIIII]

[Footnote 704: Lataris, XVII. _Stuk._]

[Footnote 705: XVI. _Stuk._]

[Footnote 706: XX. _Stuk._]

[Footnote 707: Iter 10 inverted, Brocavonacis--Luguvallia, XXII.]

[Footnote 708: VIIII. _Stukeley._]

[Footnote 709: XXX Iter 9.]

[Footnote 710: Statio Trajectus. _Comm._]

[Footnote 711: Ad Sabrinam. _Comm._]

[Footnote 712: VIIII. _Stukeley._]

[Footnote 713: Tibia VII. _Stukeley._]

[Footnote 714: This station was discovered by Mr. Fenton during his researches for his History of Pembrokeshire. It lies in the parish of Ambleston.]

[Footnote 715: We prefer the name of _Abone_ for Sea Mills, because it bears that name in old deeds; on the other hand, there appears to be no instance in which the name of _Trajectus_ is applied to a town unless at the passage of a river.]

[Footnote 716: The bishops of St. David's being called in Latin _Menapienses_ by the earliest of our ecclesiatical writers, is an argument that the station is near the present town. The site of the station itself was probably at a short distance from the modern city, at a place called the Burrows, and just above a fine harbour called the Porth Mawr.]

[Footnote 717: Few of the Roman stations have been fixed at so many different pieces as that of _Calleva Atrebatum_. It has been placed at Silchester, Henley, Wallingford, and Reading, by different antiquaries; yet in no doubtful case do more testimonies concur to ascertain the site. It was evidently a station of importance, because it appears as a central point, to which the roads traversed by three different Iters of Antonine (the 13th, 14th, and 15th,) converge. It was the capital of the Atrebates; situated at known distances from London, Winchester, Bath, Spene, and Caerleon; and at a doubtful one, though easily supplied, from Cirencester and Old Sarum. These circumstances cannot by any expedient be brought to coincide, either with Henley, Wallingford, or Reading; but all agree in regard to Silchester. Its distance nearly accords with the Itinerary distance of _Calleva_ from London, Bath, Spene, Winchester, and Caerleon, and, if a station (which is evidently lost) in the Iter of Antonine be supplied, with that from Cirencester. The present remains are those of a great Roman town; it is situated in the district formerly inhabited by the Atrebates; and in every direction traces of Roman roads converging to this point still plainly exist, from London, Spene, Winchester, Old Sarum, Bath, and Cirencester.]

[Footnote 718: Bultro, Iter 13]

[Footnote 719: _Stukeley_, X.]

[Footnote 720: Richard, b. 1, c. 6, sect. 28, describing the several nations whose territories were watered by the Thames in its course to the German Ocean, places the Atrebates between the Hedui and the Cassii, without even mentioning the Segontiaci, a proof that their territories did not approach the river.]

[Footnote 721: In Hasted's History of Kent is a passage which countenances the idea of an ancient road having traversed the country in this line.]

[Footnote 722: _Stuk._ XXX.]

[Footnote 723: It. 3. Duraliponte--Durnomago XX.--Issinis XX.--Lindo XX.]

[Footnote 724: XVI.]

[Footnote 725: It. 2, inv. Etoceto.--Manduessuedo XIII.--Benonais XII.--Tripontio Isantia Varia XII.]

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Old English ChroniclesChapter XXVIII: Appendix: No. I (2)

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