button to main menu  Gents Mag 1866 part 2 p.641

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Gentleman's Magazine 1866 part 2 p.641

  Skinburness
Skinburness


INSCRIBED ROMAN ALTAR FOUND NEAR SKINBURNESS.

... MR. URBAN, - I have read with much interest in your October number, bearing particularly on the inscribed Roman altar which I lately picked up on the sea-shore between Silloth and Skinburness. The finding of this relic confirms, I think, Dr. Bruce's statement referred to at page 34 of his second edition of "The Roman Wall," viz., "A military way ran along the coast from this station (Moresby, near Whitehaven), by way of Maryport, to the extremity of the wall at Bowness."
I also think it very probable the Romans used the creek or harbour at Skinburness. In confirmation of this, the following extract from the second volume of Nicolson and Burn's "History of Westmorland and Cumberland," p.117, would almost lead to the infernce that the town and harbour of Skinburness existed in the time of the Romans:-
"In the year 1301, Bishop Hatton being informed that the inhabitants of the village or town near the port of Skinburness were at a great distance from all manner of Divine service, grants a power to the abbot and convent of Holm Cultram to erect a church there which should be endowed with all manner of tithes and enjoy all parochial rights. The abbot and convent to have the power of advowson, and the bishop of Carlisle and his successors all ordinary jurisdiction."
The town of Skinburness was at this time not only privileged with a market, but seems also to have been the chief place for the king's magazines in these parts for supplying the armies then employed against the Scots. But the case was most miserably altered very soon after. For in 1305, we find it thus mentioned in the parliament records:-
"At the petition of the abbot, requesting that whereas he had paid a fine of 100 marks to the king for a fair and market to be had in Skinburness, and now that town, together with the way leading to it, is carried away by the sea, the king would grant that he may have such fair and market at his town of Kirkeby Johan instead of the other place aforesaid, and that his charter upon this may be renewed. It is answered, Let the first charter be annulled, and then let him have a like charter in the place as he desireth. ... And for the same reason, as it seemeth, the church was also removed to Kirkeby Johan or Newton Arlosh."
So much for the interest which the finding of a portion of an inscribed Roman altar near Skinburness has already led to. - I am, &c.
CHARLES WILKINSON.
Bank House, Kendal,
Oct. 16, 1866.
button altars, see 1866 part 2 p.470
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