The Roman Road. 193 



with the Irwell or "Western-torrent," (for such is the 

 signification of these ancient British names,) was estab- 

 lished a body of Roman soldiers ; and here and there 

 were a few huts, constituting the "Mancenion" of some 

 half-naked and blue-stained Celts. The time of the 

 Roman settlement upon the spot we now call Campfield 

 is stated by Tacitus to have been A.D. 79.* 



To find the old highway, proceed from Littleborough 

 up the Blackstone-edge road, passing, upon the left, the 

 noted " Lydgate Inn," a portion of which is believed to 

 have been built in the twelfth century, and where it is 

 well to accept the invitation upon the sign-board 



e fmng toefl, anb feinbev# none ; 

 anb page, an& trabel on. 



For the subsequent climb is toilsome, and until we return 

 from the ridge, there is no other opportunity. Next, 

 going past the turnpike, look out for the protruding 

 crags above referred to, and at the height of about a 

 quarter of a mile will be discovered a belt of massive 

 pavement, about forty feet in width, quite smooth, and 

 more or less overgrown with whortle and crowberry. 

 So bright is the colour of this covering, compared with 

 that of the contiguous vegetation, that when the air is 

 clear, and the sunshine favourably subdued, the road 



* Respecting the Roman remains in our neighbourhood, and the 

 roads formed by the Romans, see Whitaker's and Aikin's Histories 

 of Manchester. Concerning the Roman roads in general, see the 

 karned work of Marsilus, Danubiw, Pannonico Mysicus, &c., 1726, 

 in the Chetham Library. 



N 



