L>14 THE BRIGANTES. 



bank ; the fourth or eastern side is naturally on the edge of a 

 very steep descent to the river. Here the bank is very slight ; 

 elsewhere it is bold, and at the south-west, north-west and 

 south-east points rises into conspicuous mounds. There are 

 two entrances, one in the northern face near the north angle, 

 the other in the south-eastern angle. An old hollow road 

 passes by the south side, which is the boldest of all, as at Bar- 

 wick. 



From this post Aldrow, Langton, and Wharram Clump are 

 visible. It is presumed that a line of old road passed this way 

 from near Aldby to join Wade's Causeway, and the name seems 

 to be some evidence, but there is no proof of its being a Roman 

 Way. 



* At Langton, on the south side of the high wold which sepa- 

 rates this village from Malton, and on the north side of the 

 little beck, is a small irregular post, strongly entrenched, and, 

 like the two cases last noticed, presenting one side to a hollow 

 road. The ground slopes to the south-west, in which direction 

 the enclosure is longest, and measures about 80 yards ; at right 

 angles to this line the space measures about 45 yards. The 

 whole figure is somewhat triangular, the limit on the south being 

 the scarped side of the hill, and toward the east also natural 

 swells, modified by art. 



Half a mile lower down, on the same side of the stream, at 

 Thornthorpe, is an earth-work, placed to guard the passage on 

 the old road from Acklam Wold to Malton, which has been 

 called a Roman road. A double ditch parallel to the stream can 

 still be recognized. If, as is most likely, the valley was marshy, 

 these defences might be effectual. 



DIKES. 



Imperfectly as we understand them, much information regard- 

 ing the life of the ancient Britons is derived from the numerous 

 and extensive earth-works which they constructed for defence, 



