Page:History of Manchester (1771), Volume 1, by John Whitaker.djvu/548

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a: pi f e. kt eu r: x; f>f xI5a; Gale Weftbury Kennet Spene Henley Horseley Near Leckham I Marlborough * Spene Silchefter London London SttTKELEY Lacock on Avon Wilts Marlborough Spene Wallingford Bray . London And that ftyle of building appears not to have been ever ufed at all by either the Saxons the Danes or the Normans of the ifland.

  • The Britifh fortrefs which was originally placed upon the fite of this ftation, which

was denominated Bibrac-te or the Abode of the Bibroc, and which was the original metropolis of the Bibroces, muft have been feated upon the area of the prcfent church* yard at Bray, the fite of the vicarial houfe and vicarial garden, and trie level of the ad* joining meadow to the weft of all. This compafs of ground lies up*n the fotthern fide of the Thames and fpreads directly along the current of it. This compafs of ground contains about twelve ftatute-acres, and reaches at one extremity to the point of the old ford over the riter. And the fortrefs muft have been furrounded with the great wood or frith (as Leland calls it) which remained very confiderable to the days of Q. Elizabeth, the laft remains of which were grubbed up for firing in the fevere froft of 17399 and the fite of which ftill retaineth the name of Maidenhead Thicket. The Roman ftation which was afterwards conftruded upon the Britifh fortrefs muft have been placed upon one fide of it and muft have been confined within the area of the adjoining meadow. That field lies at the confluence of a brook with the river, and is defended by the former upon one fide, by the latter upon another, and by fome remains of ditcher .upon a third. That field is denominated Garfton or the Field of War, and includes an area of about five acres. And near to that field and (kirting the eaftern fide of the church-yard Tradition lays the old road to London, carries it along the lane, and makes it to ford the river at the end. ITER