Page:Roman Manchester (1900) by Charles Roeder.djvu/44

 streets of regular pavement in a variety of directions across it."

In his "Plan of the original town of Manchester, about 300 A.D.'" he has laid down the outlines of the various streets which were constructed on the two sides of the Ribchester road in four rectangular blocks. He says: "To the one original street (the Ribchester road) others were gradually annexed. Indeed, in 1765–6, a pavement near the south-west extremity of the area, extending more than 2 yards in breadth, and seeming to tend nearly parallel with the original street of the road, was found, and this must undoubtedly have commenced with it by a cross street. This actually commenced with it by no less than three cross streets: (1) One was laid along the margin of the northern fosse, and the remains of it, a narrow causeway about 1 yard in breadth, have been recently dug up for several yards; (2) another was lately found along the northern hedge of the first great garden; (3) a third, about an equal distance from both, remaining only about ½ yard in width."

And, in 1765–6, another pavement was discovered, situated almost as much to the east as the former was to the west of the principal street, lying 3 yards in breadth and ¾ yard in depth. This commenced at the northern hedge of the Castlefield, and in the middle of the private garden, pointed less obliquely across the neighbouring lane, and evidently carried a direction towards Alport Fold. Another street was found by me, in August, 1897, in the centre of the block between old Trafford Street and Great Bridgewater Street, which pointed to Tickle Street (crossing Deansgate). It was carried here over an old pit, filled up with clay, bits of charcoal, and Roman pottery, and could be traced for 12 feet, and was paved with flags of red sandstone, some measuring 12 inches by