Page:VCH Suffolk 1.djvu/337

 ROMANO-BRITISH SUFFOLK flowing into it on the north. Of these the Waveney makes a great bow or curve from north to south a Httle above its mouth in Breydon, and then, changing its direction, proceeds westward. Breydon is practically land- locked, for the access to the sea of its waters and those of the rivers entering it is now only by a cbannel 2 miles long to the south of the town of Yarmouth. This has probably always existed, but the chief outfall of the rivers was at an- other point, and one of more importance. In Roman times, and for countless ages previously, the tides rushed in and out of Breydon through a great opening in the huge sand bank on which Yarmouth came to be built in the i ith century. This gap, through which the Norfolk and Suffolk rivers flowed to the sea, in course of ages became blocked by shifting sands, and by the time of Eliza- beth had become entirely effaced. In the Middle Ages it was known by the euphonious name of Grubbs Haven, and its position lay be- tween the north end of Yarmouth and a spot still farther north called Caister. Close to this village was certainly a small Roman settle- ment which may well have overlooked the passage of the sea into Breydon. It is now covered by the Yarmouth Water Company's waterworks. One other point must be mentioned, as it affects the position of the camp at Burgh. At Lowestoft, as will be seen by reference to the map (plan I), there is a communication between the sea and the Waveney, first by a sheet of water called Lake Lothing, and further by a broad called Oulton Broad, whence a long channel runs west and north to the Waveney. Much of this waterway, however, is artificial and modern. The definite junction 283 »*= CAISTER Course of the Waveney from Beccles TO BREYDON WATER AND Coast of Lothing land TMt WATEB IS CNOWH AJ HKW WAIIR MARK. I great yarmouth r^ (tBURGH CASTLE GORLESTOnU GAHIANNONUM 11 NORTH ' L I REEDHAM '^^f A LOTHING I i,^*'^'*^^-:^ /v. I S E K /f^ ^ ^ r-^^^^^^w^./'t^^  ( ^ ^^^"^-v^ la NOR LAND  <<^ <» F L K 1 J lowestoft ^^--=^ r ^s^^r^^"^ ^ ' U F F L K / Plan L — Plan showing Position of Burgh Castle
 * MBB0m.E8