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start of The Wall |
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Page 221:-
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St Oswald
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castellum, which is near St. Oswald. Here I
suppose they have parted again for a little space. But the
military way is lost in the village and inclosures from St.
Oswald to Walwick. Severus's military way appears very
distinct for the small spaces where it is separated from the
north agger; regularly paved, but not much raised
above the level of the ground. When the two are united they
make a military way, very beautiful and magnificent, almost
all the way in the fourth degree. And the rest both of
Severus's and Hadrian's works are ample and conspicuous all
this way. As for the course of Severus's military way, and
its coincidiing with Hadrian's north agger, and going
off from it again at every castellum; it seems very
curious, and I wonder it has not been more observed. I shall
have farther occasion to take notice of the same appearance
again a little after.
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North Tyne River
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"From St. Oswald to the river of North Tine some
parts or appurtenances of the walls become more faint and
obscure, and some not visible at all. But yet Severus's wall
is in the second degree, and the ditch in the third most of
the way; and Hadrian's vallum and ditch in the
second.
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bridge, North Tyne
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"After the wall has crossed the Tine, it comes up to another
station, which I have called Walwick chesters. The distance
between this and Halton chesters is near five measured miles
and a quarter, and in this interval there are five visible
castella, beside one that must have stood near the
river Tine, but is now entirely lost. The constant distance
between these castella seems to have been seven
furlongs.
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6. CILURNUM
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Cilurnum
Chesters
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"At WALWICK CHESTERS Severus's wall falls upon the middle of
the fort, and Hadrian's vallum, as usual, falls in
with the south side of it. Severus's wall and ditch, being
never continued through a station, are here, as in all like
cases, supplied by the north rampart and ditch of the fort.
The ramparts of this fort are in two degrees, and the ditch
in one. The ruins of the out-buildings shew themselves
between the fort and the river. There has been a
considerable bridge over the river just at the fort, the
foundations of which are yet visible. There are large ruins
within the fort, the shape and whole dimensions of which may
be seen in the draught. This fort is usually called East
Chesters; though I rather chuse to call it Walwick
Chesters, from the neighbouring place. Camden says it was
sometimes called Silchester, or at least that
Silchester was not far from it [x]. But I could not learn
that either the fort itself, or any place near it, went by
this name. I have been told that Ricchester in
Riddesdale is sometimes called so; and I know there
is a place near that station which they call the
Sills, and a rivulet which they call the
Sil-burn; but this is at too great a distance. In the
last edition of Camden [y] both Great Chesters and
Little Chesters are mentioned as being hereabouts;
whereas they are both of them several miles farther west.
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military way, to Carvoran
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"From this station a military way has gone directly to
Carrvoran. It is very visible for the greatest part
of the way. The course of it will be best known by
inspecting the maps. I take it to have terminated eastward
at this station; for the bridge over the river has been
here, and the military way is very visible as far as
Newburgh, pointing towards the river and this
station. I observed what I took to be some remains of it
near Walwick grange; and Dr. Hunter of Durham told
me, that he had made the same observations some years ago.
The sepulchral stones now at Walwick grange, which were
found between that place and the Chesters, seem to be
a farther confirmation of this; for such monuments were
often erected near their military ways. I also think the
same way, or another beginning at Cambeck, was
continued to Stanwicks. This military way is like a
string to a bow, when the soldiers were to march directly
from the station of Walwick Chesters, or from the bridge
beside it, to Little Chesters, Great Chesters, Carrvoran, or
any of the stations more westerly than these. If their
marches were per lineam valli, this way was by much a
shorter rout, than to follow the course of the military way
which attends Severus's wall. And if the north agger
was the antient military way from station to station, and
not ruined before this was laid; yet this is still the
shorter and better, if the march was not immediately from
station to station, but from the bridge to any of the
stations more westerly than House-steeds. Besides
that it is within, or on the south side of Hadarian's
vallum, and consequently when they marched along this
way, they might be better secured from a northern enemy
before the wall of Severus was built. And 'tis curious to
observe, how in time of leisure and peace the soldiers were
employed, and what works they performed, in order to
facilitate their march when they should be called out
against the enemy. A little advantage by making the marching
rout easier or shorter, upon such an occasion, was procured
at the expence of great labour, when they were disengaged
from other affairs. And 'twas both a benefit to them, and a
piece of good discipline to keep them employed in such
works. And it was their custom, where the way was longer
than needed, to lay another shorter and streighter, Dr. Plot
has observed from Galen [z]. And 'tis plain that this way
was designed for the use of the wall, and the stations upon
it; for it leads to no other military way, but that which
belongs to the walls: so that the stations upon this way, or
between it and the wall, are rightly placed among the
stations per lineam valli.
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military way, from Watling
Street
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"There seems also a branch of a military way to have come
from Watling street, south of Raisingham, to this station,
or to the bridge beside it; of which there are some visible
remains, as well as of two or three tumuli, that are
on the west side of it.
"From Walwick Chesters to the village of Walwick, Severus's
wall and ditch are visible in the second and third degree.
But Hadrian's vallum with what belongs to it is more
obscure. At the top of the ascent, just after the village,
there seems to be the foundation of a castellum, and
it is both a proper situation, and at the usual distance.
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Carrawburgh
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"From hence all the way to Carrawbrugh both the walls and
their ditches are very conspicuous, and most part of the way
several regular courses of the original facing stones are
visible on Severus's wall. The two walls still keep pretty
close together, and nearly parallel one to the other. Taking
all the works together, they are no where in the whole track
more conspicuous and magnificent than they are here, at
least for so long a space.
"I am much of opinion, that the military way of Severus, and
the north agger of Hadrian, have oft coincided, where
neither of them are now to be seen. And this probably has
been the case in ascending the
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[x]
P. 1081.
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[y]
P. 1054.
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[z]
Nat. Hist. Oxfordshire, p.328. § 26.
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hill
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