24 
the later Roman generals we have considerable knowledge, 
verified by actual inspection of remains of roads, but it has to be 
largely supplemented by an estimation of probabilities and by 
conjecture. Some of the roads which are shown in Mr. Watkin’s 
fine map, are military roads of the first order, and some are only 
minor roads or vicinal ways, amongst which we must be content 
to include these of our own neighbourhood. In those days, as 
in these, we lay out of the main line of communication. From 
Manchester, the great Roman centre of the north-west, one 
main line seems to have gone by Strangeways, Prestwich, Stand, 
Radcliffe, Spen Moor, Cockey Moor, Edgeworth, Darwen, 
Blackburn, and Revidge to Ribchester. Another road is supposed 
to have led from Manchester by Rochdale and Littleborough 
over Blackstone Edge to Cambodunem (Slack, near Halifax.) 
From Ribchester there were undoubted military roads to the 
north by Lancaster and Overborough, and another nearer home 
went north-east along the Ribble, passed a little east of Mitton, 
crossed the Barrow brook, and what is now the Clitheroe and 
Whalley Road, went by Standen Hall to Chatburn and Downham, 
and proceeded in an east-north-east direction to Burwen Castle, 
near Elslack, thence proceeding in a north-easterly direction 
probably to Ilkley. 
The minor roads or vicinal ways have been amply demon- 
strated by Dr. Whitaker, our own Mr. T. T. Wilkinson, and 
other antiquaries, and are accepted by Mr. Watkin, The camp 
at Portfield, on the north side of the Calder, near Whalley, was 
reached by a branch from the road from Ribchester to Chatburn. 
From Portfield there were two roads which immediately concern 
us. One went north-east above Sabden along Wheatley {Lane 
(where Roman coins have been found) and by Barrowford to 
Castor Cliff. It has been exposed near Newchurch-in-Pendle. 
Another appears to have gone from Portfield through Burnley. 
On the east of Burnley it forms the road which is known as the 
Long Causeway, the old road through Cliviger and Heptonstall 
to Halifax, passing Mereclough, where Roman coins were found 
in 1696 and 1765, and Maidens Cross and Dukes Cross. The 
objective of this road was Cambodunem (Slack, near Halifax.) 
From this road through Burnley there appears to have been a 
branch by Botten to the camps on Worsthorne Moor. Whether 
these camps were connected with Castor Cliff seems to be matter 
of doubt. From Castor Cliff a road ran nearly southward and 
comes as near as Broad Bank on the road from Haggate to 
Extwistle, but though it is in a direct line for Kingstones Camp, 
there appears to be no intervening link left. We are, therefore, 
connected by minor roads with the great system of fortresses 
of which I have spoken. These well-planned, well-made roads 
have largely resisted the ravages and the vandalism of sixteen or 
