l6 MEI.ANDRA CASTLE, DERBYSHIRE. 



Rome 8 1 to 96. If we take, then, into consideration, the nature 

 of the Roman cement, the tiles, the date of the coin, and the 

 probable visit of Agricola, we can fix the date of the erection 

 of the station not later than from a.d. 77 to 84. Many coins 

 of Domitian have been found in the area of the station, but 

 have got into the possession of private collectors. 



In January of the present year, Mr. John Hurdman, of Glossop, 

 and myself, were walking round the area, when we noticed that a 

 portion of the old fence wall had recently fallen down. On 

 examination, we found in the foundation of the wall a brick, and 

 on removing this from the soil we perceived some lettering which 

 at first sight we took to be the word drain, but on closer 

 observation we found it was a Roman inscription " DRAIW." 

 That it is Roman can scarcely be doubted ; it is longer, wider, 

 thinner, pressed from the narrow side, and composed of the 

 glacial clay found on the site ; the material is better tempered 

 and burnt than any local modern brick — in fact, there was 

 scarcely any brick used in Glossop fifty years ago, before the 

 advent of the railway, stone being so plentiful at hand — the 

 conjunction of the last two letters ^, the known antiquity of 

 the site, and the age of the fence wall, all being evidence in 

 its favour. 



Watson mentions seeing a gravel road leading from Melandra, 

 and pointing towards Stockport, another road passing through 

 the Hague and Mottram-in-Longdendale to Doctor's Lane Head, 

 where it joined the great military road from Manchester to York. 

 Another road, called the Doctor's Gate, passed through Glossop to 

 the Roman station at Brough. This road was of great value from 

 several points of view. It enabled reinforcements to be sent 

 quickly right into the heart of the mountain fastness of the Peak ; 

 was a means of keeping the turbulent tribes in check ; and w"as 

 available for conveying mineral and other resources of the country 

 to the various headquarters of the Roman legions. The road 

 was paved with large stones, proper drains being made where 

 necessary. A considerable portion of this road vvas used up to 

 1821, when the opening of the Sheffield turnpike road led to its 



