MELANDRA CASTLE, DERBYSHIRE. 1 7 



disuse. In some places it is in excellent preservation, and worthy 

 of a visit by members of this Society. Another road went to 

 Buxton, where the Romans had baths, and where they probably 

 sent their sick, using the place as a sanatorium. Watson states 

 that the foundations of a large building, in the area 25 yards 

 square, with walls 4^ feet thick, was distinctly traceable, and he is 

 of opinion that it was the praetorium, the residence of the 

 commander of the detachment and governor of the districts, 

 the place where markets were held and justice dispensed. Watson 

 also mentions a subterraneous stream of water. This issues some 

 distance down the hill side, and from its direction evidently passes 

 immediately under the centre of the station. There is another 

 and similar one about one hundred yards to the west. I am of 

 opinion that if this was examined, it would prove to be one, if not 

 the main sewer. At one point the archway must have given way, 

 as at this particular place the earth continually sinks in, and, being 

 near to a footpath, the farmer is periodically filling the hole up 

 with fresh soil ; you can see the sand washed out by the water at 

 the exit. 



When the natives became reconciled to their lot, wolves, boars, 

 deer, and bears being plentiful, the garrison would not lack for 

 want of sport — hunting, fishing, bear-baiting, and hawking finding 

 them in amusements to fill up their time when not occupied with 

 military duties. 



After some years of occupation, time-expired soldiers and 

 colonists settled under the protection of the station, midway on 

 the slopes of the surrounding hills, inter-marrying with the natives, 

 and forming British-Romano settlements. Roman coins have 

 been found in nearly all of the surrounding hamlets and villages. 

 In 1838, in a field near Hooley Wood Quarry, two men, John 

 Hyde Roberts and George RoUey, whilst removing the soil, 

 discovered a considerable quantity of Roman coins of Billon. 

 The coins were mostly those of Alexander Severus — one of which 

 I have had lent me for this occasion — and Julia Maesa, all of 

 them being of a later date than some of those found at the station. 

 Nearly <i century ago, whilst digging the foundations for a mill at 



