Remains of a Roman Camp. 25 



would admit,) and enclosing about 1.5^ acres. The interior camp 

 is 187 yards long by 165 wide, enclosing 6j acres. It is qua- 

 drangular, and pieces of ancient armour have been frequently 

 ploughed up. 



The ancient vallum and fosse have suffered much by the lapse 

 of time, by the attempts of the occupiers of the farm to level the 

 ground, and by the unfortunate circumstance of the Worcester and 

 Birmingham Canal passing through it, to make the banks of which 

 the southern extremity of the camp has been completely destroyed. 

 Notwithstanding these various means of destruction, sufficient re- 

 mains are still visible, by which to ascertain that the original camp 

 must have nearly approached the plan which accompanies this. 

 Mr. Hutton describes a third embankment, enclosing thirty acres, 

 and surrounding the two before mentioned, but I could not exactly 

 ascertain it; on the eastern side, there is some appearance of it, 

 but I am uncertain whether it is not the natural formation of the 

 ground. On the north-west, there are decidedly three banks, as 

 the ground being more on a level, required an extra fortification, 

 and I believe the entrance was on this side. At the eastern angle 

 is a field, still called the Camp Leasow, where the ancient entrench- 

 ments are very distinct. 



Mr. Hutton considers this camp as the work of the Danes, but 

 for the following reasons, I think it may be considered as a Roman 

 station. 



" An undertaking of such immense labour could not have been 

 designed for temporary use." 



In shape it exactly resembles those camps, which are usually 

 considered as Roman. Those of the Danes were of the most irre- 

 gular dimensions, and generally placed upon the top of an emi- 

 nence. This camp is placed upon the side of a hill, and is supplied 

 with water, which is well known to have been considered of great 

 importance by the former people. 



The Ikenield Street runs within a very short distance of this 

 camp. From Etocetum or Wall, to Mitchley, is 16 English, or 

 about 21 Roman, miles ; from Mitchley to Alauna or Alcester, is 

 15 and a half English, or about 20 and a half Roman, miles. 



