Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/360

218 ROMAN ROADS, CAMPS, AND EARTHWORKS, Thus it appears that the Roman Way did not pass through the station at Pierse Bridge ; but Mr. Denham of that place, who has paid considerable attention to the antiquities of the village, affirms, that in dry weather the mark of a way may be seen across the field called the Tofts, to the Roman Road. In descending the hill from the turnpike gate towards Pierse Bridge, at a spot where the modern road branches off to Cliffe Hall, a Roman monumental slab, wdth an inscription, was recently found, in lowering the bank to join the Roman Way. A representation of this slab will be given hereafter. We have now traced this road to the most northern limit of our map, the River Tees ; thence it is continued with more or less interruption to Vinovium (Binchester). Returning to the point of divergence at Scotch Corner, which we have already noticed, we find that the Greta Bridge line of road runs through the farm called Violet Grange, and falling into the present road at the turnpike gate, continues straight for about 600 yards further ; at which point it is about 600 feet above the sea. Here the line makes a bend of about four degrees towards the north. It was probably here that Dr. Horsley considered the road to turn towards Catterick Bridge.^ About 300 yards beyond this last mentioned place, the Roman Way, which continues to coincide with the present . road, crosses the road from Melsonby to Gilling. On reaching Diderston it runs about 300 yards south of that very remarkable hill, between it and Black Hill ; these, it is presumed are the two spots alluded to by Dr. Horsley as " a tumulus on the east side, and an exploratory fort on the west.2" Though Black Hill is a commanding position, there does not appear to have been any entrenchments made on it ; but Diderston probably has had some addition on its summit, whether for sepulchral or exploratory purposes. This hill has been conjectured by Mr. Cade"^ to be the Wilfares Dun of Bode, which opinion may be strengthened by the derivation the name admits of from the British, — ' Wylfa-dun, — the icatch-hiU. ' " This branch has generally been after the modern has left it, proceeds as thought to strike into the other Iiranch nearly as I could judge, directly to Thorn- about two or three miles north from Cat- brough, still continuing large and conspi- terick Bridge ; the present highway does cuous." — Brit. Roniana, p. 401. so in fact, and this no doubt has occa- - Idem, sioned the mistake. For the Roman Way, ■' Archaelogia, vol. x., p. 55.