ROMANO-BRITISH SUFFOLK 



flowing into it on the north. Of these the Waveney makes a great bow or 

 curve from north to south a Httle above its mouth in Breydon, and then, 

 changing its direction, proceeds westward. Breydon is practically land- 

 locked, for the access to the sea of its waters and those of the rivers 

 entering it is now only by a cbannel 2 miles long to the south of the 

 town of Yarmouth. 

 This has probably 

 always existed, but 

 the chief outfall of 

 the rivers was at an- 

 other point, and one 

 of more importance. 

 In Roman times, 

 and for countless 

 ages previously, the 

 tides rushed in and 

 out of Breydon 

 through a great 

 opening in the huge 

 sand bank on which 

 Yarmouth came to 

 be built in the i ith 

 century. This gap, 

 through which the 

 Norfolk and Suffolk 

 rivers flowed to the 

 sea, in course of ages 

 became blocked by 

 shifting sands, and 

 by the time of Eliza- 

 beth had become 

 entirely effaced. In 

 the Middle Ages it 

 was known by the 

 euphonious name of 

 Grubbs Haven, and 

 its position lay be- 

 tween the north end 

 of Yarmouth and 

 a spot still farther 



north called Caister. Close to this village was certainly a small Roman settle- 

 ment which may well have overlooked the passage of the sea into Breydon. 

 It is now covered by the Yarmouth Water Company's waterworks. 



One other point must be mentioned, as it affects the position of the 

 camp at Burgh. At Lowestoft, as will be seen by reference to the map 

 (plan I), there is a communication between the sea and the Waveney, first by a 

 sheet of water called Lake Lothing, and further by a broad called Oulton 

 Broad, whence a long channel runs west and north to the Waveney. Much 

 of this waterway, however, is artificial and modern. The definite junction 



283 



Plan L — Plan showing Position of Burgh Castle 



