Page:Roman Manchester (1900) by Charles Roeder.djvu/43

 of Dyer's Croft and opposite to Mr. Markland's constructions, the current of the Medlock accidentally swelled with the rain, and, obstructed in its course by a dam, broke down the north bank and disclosed a long tunnel in the rock beneath. This tunnel I have since laid open in part. It appeared entirely uncovered at the top, was about 1 yard in width, and another in depth, but gradually narrowing towards the bottom. The sides showed everywhere the marks of the tool upon the rock and the course was parallel with the channel. It was bared by the torrent only for 25 yards in length, but must have been evidently continued for several yards further, having originally begun, as the nature of the ground evinces, just above the large curvature in the channel of the Medlock." (See Whitaker, p. 316, vol. i.)

—Whitaker writes in 1771 (see p. 205): "Betwixt the Castlefield and Alportfold is an area of 16 acres to 17 acres, now chiefly converted into gardens. It lies immediately without the northern barriers of the station, it extends up to the new houses in Campfield, or Tickle-pitcher's Lane [see Tinker's map], and the new church [St. John's Church, founded 1769]. The soil on the southern part [towards the station] of this area is absolutely one great body of adventitious earth, fragments of bricks, pieces of hewn stone, and remains of urns. Huge blocks of millstone grit have recently been dug up with the mortar adhering to them within the circuit of the area, and the whole level of the ground appears to have been traced with