8o PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



or less of success. We know that when they had been 

 conquered a strong hand was required to keep them in sub- 

 jection, for they and other tribes Hving in the fastnesses of 

 Wales offered a prolonged resistance, and were among the 

 last to submit to the Imperial yoke of Rome. 



ROMAN CAMPS AND ROADS 



Prebendary Scarth says that " when the Romans left 

 " the island they had formed a system of roads throughout 

 " its whole extent, even over its inaccessible mountains 

 had constructed bridges, and made fords."* 

 A glance at a map of the Cotteswolds reveals large 

 districts without Roman roads which were somewhat 

 thickly populated in Roman times. Five great arterial 

 roads converged at Cirencester ; one of less importance 

 can be traced from that town through Salperton and 

 Hawling to Hailes ; and the Hrmine-street, which con- 

 nected Cirencester with Gloucester, was continued (as the 

 Via Julia) through the Forest of Dean to Caerwent and 

 Caerleon. It is obvious that beyond these via; there 

 must have been a considerable number of minor lines of 

 communication, traces of which have altogether dis- 

 appeared or can only be found l)y diligent and careful 

 observation. 



In endeavouring to add to the road map of the iMiddle 

 Cotteswolds in Roman times, we may get some hel[) from 

 the positions of camps and villas, the names or lines of 

 ancient highways, and the existence of fords. 



The camj)S at Birdlip, Cricklcy, Norbury (near Coles- 

 borne), Leckhampton, Dowdeswell, Cleeve, and Notting 

 Hill must have had, in Roman times, easy means of com- 

 munication, not only with each other, but also with the 

 colonies of Corinium and Glevum, for, as Mr John 

 Bellows has forcibly pointed out, rapidity of transport was 

 the chief secret of Roman domination. 



■^" Roman Britain," r). 21b. 



