URE. 63 



Here a considerable affluent enters from Colsterdale, which 

 spreads out in many branches toward the west among the moor- 

 lands, as far as the edge of Coverdale : no limestone appears at 

 the surface in this dale, but coal is dug sparingly. 



The church at Masham is a fine structure, in the centre of a 

 beautiful district full of antiquarian reliques. On the south is 

 Nutwith Camp, crowning a natural hill, with its nearly rectan- 

 gular entrenchment. It almost overhangs admired Hackfall and 

 antique Grewelthorpe ; Kirkby Malzeard, where the Mowbrays 

 had a castle, being a little more south. At Aldborough, nearly 

 opposite Nutwith Camp, an old road crossed the Ure, and there 

 are marks, fitting to its name, of ancient foundations. 



Tanfield, on the same side of the Ure, still preserves its an- 

 cient castle or hall, and in the church alabaster tombs bear the 

 chivalrous names of Marmion and Fitzhugh. At Well, near 

 Tanfield, a Roman pavement has been found (Gough's Camden}. 

 At a distance of a mile east of Tanfield are three circular en- 

 trenchments of similar plans and proportions, about half a mile 

 asunder, and placed almost exactly on a right line directed to 

 the N.N.W., which is the course of the Roman road from 

 Wensleydale by Well to join the Leeming Lane. Each circle is 

 interrupted by a clear passage or road through it, and the open- 

 ings thus made point one to another, so that the three entrench- 

 ments constitute one great work. Thornborough, a name doubly 

 suggestive of an ancient fortification, is very near on the east of 

 these ' rings/ and Nosterfield is to the north of them. A line 

 drawn from Well, where Roman remains have been found, to 

 the S.S.E., would pass nearly through the centres of the ' rings/ 

 Between the northern and middle ring is an interval of three- 

 eighths of a mile ; between the middle and southern entrench- 

 ment about five-eighths of a mile ; and in this larger space near 

 the middle and on the line joining the two is a tumulus of rather 

 large diameter (111 feet), but of comparatively small elevation. 

 Of the three circles, that to the north has been preserved by 

 the plantation in a nearly perfect state ; the middle one is in 



