Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Written Rock of Gelt, Brampton


	Written Rock of Gelt, Brampton
	Written Rock of Gelt
civil parish:-	Brampton (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	roman inscription
locality type:-	quarry
coordinates:-	NY52605875
1Km square:-	NY5258
10Km square:-	NY55

evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 18 9) placename:- Written Rock, The
source data:-	Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.

evidence:-	old print:- Camden 1695
source data:-	Print, the Written Rock of Gelt, Brampton, Cumberland, in Camden's Britannia, translated and expanded by Edmund Gibson, published by A Swale, The Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, and by A and J Churchil, The Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695. click to enlarge CAM3E3.jpg "Along near Brampton runs the little river Gelt, upon the bank whereof, in a rock call'd Helbeck, is this gaping, imperfect Inscription, set up by an Ensign of the second Legion call'd Augusta, possibly that Optio under Agricola the Propraetor; with some others, the sight whereof time has anvy'd us. ..." item:- Armitt Library : A6588.7 Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-	old text:- Pennant 1773
source data:-	Book, A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor, 1773, by Thomas Pennant, published by Edward Harding, 98 Pall Mall, London, 1801. goto source Pennant's Tour 1773, page 171 "... the torrent Gelt, which tumbled down, in a very picturesque manner, a deep wooded fell. About half a mile above [the bridge], on the front of an ancient quarry, is an inscription, supposed to have been cut in the reign of Severus; importing, that the Romans got some of the stone with which they made the neighbouring part of the famous wall from hence, and the Vexillatio was sent to assist in the work." "I heard that there were other inscriptions on the neighbouring quarries, but I did not think them interesting enough to be visited."

evidence:-	old text:- Camden 1789 placename:- Helbeck item:- roman inscription; inscription, roman
source data:-	Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789. goto source Page 176:- "..." "Near Brampton runs the little river Gelt, on whose bank on a rock called Helbeck is this imperfect inscription, cut by the Vexillato of the Legio II. Augusta probably an Optio placed under the Propraetor Agricola with others which time has robbed us of: See Pl. VIII. fig.10. On the same rock are these words in a later character:" "OFICIVM ROMANORVM."

evidence:-	old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) item:- roman inscription; inscription, roman
source data:-	Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789. goto source Page 203:- "..." "The Inscription on a rock overhanging the river Gelt about half a mile above Gelt bridge, Gordon or Gale in him, and Horsley Cumb. XLIV. copied differently and more full. Agricola is supposed to have been some optio or deputy to the centurion commanding the party that worked in this quarry, now known by the name of the Old Quarry. The numerals IX. X. added above express the 9th and 10th cohorts of the Legio II. Aug. employed here. The consuls mentioned in one of the five lines left dotted by Mr. Camden held their office A.D. 207, under Severus, who, Cassiodorus says, that year made war" goto source Page 204:- "upon the Britans, and drew the wall 132 miles from sea to sea. Officina Mercati means the company of workmen under Mercatius, whose name with the addition of Fermius is repeated. The more modern words Officium Romanorum are now effaced. Q. if not intended for opisicium Romanorum by some monk. Mr. Hutchinson copied the whole very differently. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) placename:- Written Rocks
source data:-	Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839. goto source Page 118:- "... Up the river Gelt are the Written Rocks: the precipitous face of a stratum of red freestone has had a Roman inscription, showing that these quarries have been wrought by this people, and which is preserved by Horsley, for the antiquarian will in vain search for it. ..."

	BOW90.jpg From Hutchinson 1794.

notes:-	30 feet above the river, N bank. Some are lost.
	Mentions of Legio II Augusta and Legio XX Valeria Victrix.
	Collingwood, R G &Wright, P P: 1965: Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Oxford University Press:: nos.1007-1015

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