Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/363

 IN THE XOllTII HIDING UF YORKSHIKE. 2'Z Having thus described the Roman Works within this triangular piece of country, we will now proceed to trace the course of the remarkable dike, which runs nearly north from the Swale to the Tees, and, though not in a straight line, is nearly parallel to the Roman Road which forms the east side of the triangle. Its entire course is laid down in the General Map to which we have already referred. Commencing on the south, it appears to have crossed the Swale at a place, called in the old boundary rolls of Richmond, Hind Wath, about three miles above Catterick Bridge, and half a mile below Richmond. The exact spot where it passed the river can only be inferred from the traces of the dike ; in the district on each side south of the river it is called SLvons Loanimj, and on the north. Road Dike^ in the boundary rolls to which we have already referred. Ascending from the low ground, called Lowbackhouse Jug, where it is obscured by the alluvium of the valley, it suddenly appears in great strength and perfection as the boundary to the lands of St. Nicholas, where advantage of the ground has been taken to form the rampart so as to be a defence against the east. This character the work maintains more or less the whole way, the dike on the west of the ditch being stronger than that on the east of it. About 350 yards from the Swale, it crosses the road from Richmond to Easby, and seems to have followed the course of the lane, on the west of the house called Sandford House, but it is here so obscured, that whether the lane occupies the space of the ditch, or of the rampart, it is impossible to say. At the end of the lane, it ascends Whitfield Pasture, forming the east boundary of it, and also of the Borough of Richmond ; here it is in great preservation, both dikes and ditch being frequently visible, and it is probable that this is the part referred to as Road Dike in the before-mentioned boundary roll. ■ Crossing the road from Richmond to Skeeby it proceeds nearly straight up the fields, called in the maps of the propert}', the Gill Fields, which, it is presumed, were so called from the formidable ditch which thus traverses them. On gaining the sunnnit of Brcckon Fields, it runs about 400 yards to the cast of the Watch Tower, or Gazebo, called ' ('larksiin's llibtorv uf Ri<.'liin(iiiil,i I-"). VOL. VI. II 11