REPORT OF THE EXCAVATIONS IN 1889-I9OO. lOI 



were given on the site, and a collecting box provided, which 

 eventually brought in the sum of £^2\ iis. 3d., and enabled the 

 local committee to extend their operations. Mr. John 

 Garstang, B.A., of Oxford, the well known Roman student, who 

 was excavating the Roman Station at Ribchester, was strongly 

 recommended by the Society as a most suitable authority to 

 superintend and direct the work. He was, therefore, 

 approached, and from the 24th of August to the 5th of October 

 had the sole direction. Omng to being engaged in the 

 Egyptian explorations, he could no longer spare the time, and 

 the work was continued under my supervision until the i8th of 

 November, when the weather becoming unfit and the funds being 

 nearly exhausted, excavations were discontinued for the year. 

 The members of the Derbyshire Society subscribed £fi 5s., and 

 the members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Society also gave us 

 a very handsome contribution, but it was a pity that these sub- 

 scriptions were not received sooner, as more men could have 

 been emplo3ed whilst Mr. John Garstang was present, and the 

 weather was most favourable for outdoor work. 



The discoveries made are very interesting, and have far 

 exceeded our initial expectations. The eastern entrance has 

 been cleared to the foundations, which were found perfect, the 

 guard chamber on the left, and a small tower on the right, 

 having their lower courses of stone still remaining. The gateway 

 was double-arched one, and many of the arch stones were 

 found in the debris, which enabled a portion of one of the 

 pillars of an arch tO' be restored with the original stones found 

 at its base. The towers at the four corners of the station were 

 found, the north and south ones being in good preservation. 

 Opposite and near to the south tower was discovered the floor 

 of an oven ; a complete tile and portions of others still remain. 

 A considerable quantity of charcoal, the remains of the last 

 fire, was strewn around. In the southern half of the camp was 

 unearthed the Praetorium, which is twenty-five yards square, the 

 walls in some instances coming within a few inches of the 

 surface. The inner walls were two feet, and the outer walls three 



