Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/256

 •:20 THE MAIDEN WAY, an a point at each end, being considerably broadest near the eastern end. Its slopes vary from 12 to 27 yards, and it is sun-dunded by a terrace H yards broad, and about <> feet high, ^vhich is fringed with bruslnvood. It resembles the ship-mounds which are numerous in Sweden, and arc so called from their being meant, as it has been conjectured, to imitate the form of inverted ships, and supposed to have been reared over the remains of those bold Vikings, whose deeds of depredation and daring spread the name of the Northmen far and wide.^ It is situated in a secluded corner, and nearly surrounded with w^oods. (100 yards.) At 1370 yards the line crosses an old peat road, which, as on the !Sidc Fell, is thickly covered with stones at the point of crossing, but on no other part of it. (100 yards.) At 1470 yards a longitudinal section of the Way is seen, about 10 yards long, on the summit called the Brow^nhill. A transverse section about 20 yards further forward shows the Way to have been 10 yards broad. At this point the Way appears to turn towards the Crew, taking a direction almost due north, and striking along the edge of the back -bone of England, where the varied scenery of hill and dale, rocky precipices, and foaming rivulets, alternately adorn the prospect. The stones have been dug out to a considerable extent at this point, and carted away for making the neighbouring fences on the recent division of the Common. This sort of spoliation has rendered the trace of the Way much more difficult and unsatisfactory. The Mile Castle (if there was one) would be about this place, but it is not now traceable. Pursuing its course straight forwards about 300 yards, the ^Maiden Way reaches the remains of a small l^cacon Tower, about 5 yards in diameter, on the Greyhill, which is the summit of this part of the Grey fell. This IJeacon commands a view of the sunnnit of the Side Fell, of the Cairn on the Tower lirow, and of the IJeacons through Knaresdale to the soudi. and ri very extensive prospect to the north. From the IWown Kiiowe on the south-west side of the High-house to this Deacon is (Uk; conliniKMl straight line about 4000 yards in length. It seems to be gcMicrally undtM'stood by (he people here, ' 'I'IkT'- ih II |iliici' ill i)iirhi-tiiliiri.' oiill' il .s|ii|itimii, ii-. it has limi Mii.l, (rdiii a larj^o liarrow ilitrr, in form of a hlii|i.