Page:Roman Manchester (1900) by Charles Roeder.djvu/71

 the recent excavations seems to show that it must have been left to mere cultivation, being on the outskirts; at its eastern side it was crossed by the road to Slack.

Any occupation of the site as a town by the Mercians or Northumbrians is most improbable, as it would have been the worst place one could choose for ready defence or protection. The old Roman fort or castle must by that time have been already dismantled, a mere wreck of skeleton walls, and a previous prey to Picts and Scots. It is more in harmony with practical sense to assume that the rocky ridge at Hunt's Bank, which forms a natural defence, became their burgh, and that the old disused Roman town in Deansgate was in contra-distinction called the Aldport, or old village or town; Aldport was separated into Over Aldport, which in 1473 was a close of pasture (towards Castlefield), and Nether Aldport, which in 1473 was a park (towards the deanery). Aldport Lodge or New Park is mentioned 1567–88.

The popular idea of the antiquity of Aldport Town must be discountenanced; it is a more modern creation, dating from the early part of the last century, when Deansgate proper outgrew its old boundaries at the deanery, and crept on slowly down the two sides to Knot Mill.

Roman Manchester (Aldport) had its centre in Knot Mill, the Northumbrian, Mercian, and Norman Mamecestre kept round Hunt's Bank and the old Baron's Hall. The discovery of Anglo-Saxon sceattas in Campfield (eight coins, dating from 450–600, and now in the possession of Mr. Hardy at the Portico Library) proves nothing. They were found, we only can say, on a Roman highway that led both to Chester and York,