346 ROMAN ROADS, CAMPS, AND EARTHWORKS, tend to support the supposition that this was the original extent of the work ; and that the tumuhis called Palet Hill, with perhaps a ditch round it, was the addition of a later age. Small as this area may appear, it is probable that it was the extent at first of the camp ; and that subsequently the town was extended about 180 yards to the west of the tumulus, where a slight descent in the ground seems to show the remains of entrenchment. Whether this camp is of a date anterior to the Roman station at Thornbrough, or was subsequently constructed by the Saxons, cannot now be determined, but the name Catterick seems to point to a Celtic origin. About a mile south-east of Catterick, on the western banks of the Swale, are the remains of a strong entrenchment, called Castle Hills ; between this camp and Catterick it is conjectured that an old road, known further south as the lower Leeming Lane, crossed up towards the ford on the Swale, near Catterick Bridge. The exact site of this ford is not known, though a place said to be the best ford, at a tumulus on the north bank, called How Hill,^ seems likely to have been the spot, particu- larly as it leads directly towards Caterley.^ This seems a place of great antiquity, as may be seen from the remains dug up there by the proprietors of the soil, the Messrs. Saunderson, and from the traces of a road said to have run continuously thence towards Scotch Corner, traversing the centre of the ground, which may be in extent about twenty- five acres. There are no traces of any kind of fortification ; a small stream forms the southern boundary of the enclosure, and here remains of sepulchral urns have been found. On the south of Cataractonium, on the side of the Roman Way, and about 650 yards from the gate, are slight traces of tumuli, which were standing in the fields called Thrummy
- This word JIow, spelt ILaujli occa- to signify a way, or road, and may have
sioiially, is frequently ai)|)lied to liills, and been the origin of the name of this place, the English word Will added. Mr. Just It seems, on the authority of the Saun- is of opinion that it is the Norse, or dor.sons, that the boundary on Gaterley Danish, Jloiujr, a place of sepulchre, or Moor is still to be indicated as low round hill ; the same as the Anglo-Saxon down nearly as Gaterley Grange, by the Luc, or Low, so frequent in England difference iu the j)roduc*tive power of the formerly, though now neai-ly obsolete. soil ; and, as there is reason to suppose it In this case the How Hill looks very stretched as far as Diderston Hill, we iiiucli like an ancient small camp to defend may infer that Gaterley was a place of t'i<-' lord. some consequence. ' O'uta is still used iu the North Riding,
