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start of The Wall |
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Page 223:-
after they are parted. The continued separation of these two
ways is owing to the great distance of the walls from one to
another. For Hadrian's vallum keeps the low ground
all the way, and for a good space is in a narrow ground
between two hills, whilst Severus's runs along the very
brink of the precipices, which in some places seem to have
been made steeper by art, in order to render them more
inaccessible. For this reason Severus's wall is for this
space very crooked, whilst Hadrian's in the main is pretty
streight. They have made no ditch to Severus's work when
they had the advantage of a precipice, nor was there the
least occasion for it. But in the hollow intervals between
the rocks they have often drawn a ditch, and in these places
usually erected their castella.
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precipices
Buisy Gap Sewingshields
Hunnum
moss troopers
Haltwhistle Burn
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"After their separation Severus's military way accompanies
the wall pretty closely, and is generally, for the whole
space that the walls continue so far parted, visible and
distinct. Yet the way does not follow every smaller winding
of the wall upon the tops of the precipices; but generally
takes a shorter course, and passes along the slope of the
hill from castelllum to castellum in the shortest and most
convenient line that it can. This is very remarkable at the
first great turn of the wall, after it enters upon the
precipices; for which reason I have in the map represented
the military way at that turn, as it passes from one
castellum to another. The wall itself is almost all the way
visible in the second or third degree, and sometimes in the
fourth, as near Buisy-gap; which is an aperture or
pass between the hills so called, where there is an
opportunity of crossing the wall on horseback. Thus it
passes by Shewen-sheel houses, leaving Shewen-sheel castle
to the north. This, or something else near it, is called a
square Roman castle in the new edition of Camden [b]; and
Camden himself thought this was the station of
Hunnum. But I saw nothing that was Roman about it.
The castle itself (now in ruins) and the motes beside it are
undoubtedly of a much later date. And I observed several
trenches thereabouts; particularly a large and long one,
which reaches from Buisy-gap cross the passes between the
mountains. But these are all on the north side of the wall,
and must certainly have been made in later times for
securing the neighbouring passes. Probably they are no older
than the times of our famous Moss troopers, who might
conveniently shelter themselves among these hideous
mountains and mosses. I took the height of one of the rocks
hereabouts, and found it to be about 40 yards perpendicular.
But in other parts they are considerably higher. As such
steep rocks are a sufficient fence for themselves, I am
inclined to think the wall has not in these parts had either
strength or thickness equal to what it has had in other
parts. For the remains here are not so considerable, though
it seems very improbable that any of the stones, especially
in some places, could have been removed. in the hollows
between the rocks, besides the addition of the ditch and a
castellum here and there, the wall itself seems to
have been stronger and thicker. Where there is a small break
of the precipice inward, the wall forms an internal angle
fetching a compass. In other cases it passes directly from
one rock to another, and then is usually continued down the
side of the one and up the side of the other, except where
the descent is almost perpendicular, in which case it is
only carried close to the side of the rock, beginning again
at the top, which is all that was needful or practicable. Of
this we have an instance just at Haltwhistle-burn. In
its passage from one set of rocks to another, in the part I
have been hitherto speaking of, it forms the north rampart
of the celebrated station at House-steeds.
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The Kennel
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"As for Hadrian's vallum and its appurtenances, they
continue very fair and distinct almost all the way, both the
aggers, vallum, and ditch, being mostly in three
degrees till they come near this station, where they are
somewhat obscure. It makes a remarkable angle pointing
southward near a single house called the Kennel,
which is about a furlong south from the vallum. And here the
distance between the walls is very considerable, being five
furlongs or thereabouts.
"The distance between Carrawbrugh and House-steeds is
somewhat more than four miles and five furlongs. All the
castella between these two stations are very visible,
being five in number, but their distances are a little
unequal. The two first intervals are just seven furlongs,
but the next is only six, and the last no more in a right
line, but if the compass the wall fetches be taken into the
computation it will be seven. There is a turret near
Buisy-gap, the distance of which from the nearest castellum
is, I find, just one fifth of the whole interval between the
castella. This falls in exactly with my scheme about
the situation and distances of these turrets. It is also
remerkable, that Severus's military way, coming off from the
castellum next to this station on the east side of it, takes
the low ground, and goes the nearest way to the east entry
of the fort.
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8. BORCOVICUM.
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Vercovicium
Housesteads
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"I cannot say, that Hadrian's vallum has made the
south rampart of this station at HOUSE-STEEDS, but I think
it had passed it not much to the south, and seems to have
made a small turn just at the the brook in order to come
near if not up to it. The southern boundary of this station
is uncertain, though the other limits are distinct. The
ditch about the station is also flat and obscure. Severus's
wall makes the north rampart. From south to north it is
about five chains, and from east to west about seven. The
ramparts on three sides are in two or three degrees, but are
lost on the other. The area of the most northerly
part of the station is nearly plain; but the south part is
more upon a descent than any other station that I remember.
I think the praetorium is visible, and the ruins of a
temple near it. The vast ruins of the Roman station and town
are truly wonderful, and a great number of inscriptions and
sculptures have been found, and many yet remian, at this
place. The town or out-buildings have stood upon a gentle
declivity to the south and south-east of the station, where
there are streets or somewhat that look like terrasses. The
best view of the walls, and the greatest variety, is between
Walwick and House-steeds.
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military way, to
Carrvoran
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"From this station there seems to have gone a military way
to Little Chesters, some faint vestiges of which I thought I
observed but can't be certain. As such a military way might
be a service for marching forces from one of these stations
to the other; so it might also be farther useful for a more
convenient passage from House-steeds to Carrvoran, or to any
other stations along the wall more westerly. Near to this
way, and to that part of House-steeds where a temple is
supposed to have stood, are some old wrought
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[b]
P. 1054.
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quarries,
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