KELDHOLM PRIORY. 147 



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extremity of it, beyond which is seen picturesque 

 and interesting scenery. Christopher Robinson, Esq. 

 to whom Ravenwick wood, and a great proportion, 

 of the land about Keldholm belongs, and who, with 

 Mr. Fletcher, assisted me in the history of the prio- 

 ry, has in his possession, eight pieces of brass, call- 

 ed celts ; which are said to have been dug from the 

 site of it. A small bell, also, and a small brass 

 hammer were found with them. The celt is an im- 

 plement, the use of which antiquaries are not agreed 

 upon. Some have thought it was used by the Dru- 

 id priests, to cut the sacred branch of the mislctoo 

 used in their religious ceremonies. Others suppose 

 they were Roman chissels, employed in cutting and 

 polishing stone. Others think, and with more pro- 

 bability, they were warlike weapons, used by our 

 remote ancestors, or by the Romans. Those in the 

 possession of Mr. Robinson, are in the shape of 

 wedges, each one hav ing a socket at one end, and a 

 loop on one side. Mr. Graves, in his History of 

 Cleveland, p. 6, giving an account of the ancient 

 Britons, says they sometimes carried short spears, 

 pointed with brass, each one having a bell fastened 

 to its so- ket ; the harsh sound of which on their ad- 

 vance to battle, served to terrify and throw their 

 enemy's cavalry into confusion. Perhaps by these 

 pieces of brass he means celts. Many celts have 

 been iound in the vicinity of Kirkby-Moorside, e- 

 specially near the Roman camps. This neighbour- 

 hood was long the scene of conflict between the 

 Brigantes, the most warlike of the Britons, and the 



Roman armies. The country is intersected 'by 

 Tt. 



