i 7 8 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



rifoned by the Cohors Cornoviorum (a}. They obferved fome re- 

 mains of a military way leading to it from Chefter-k-Jlreet, which 

 was carried over the Tyne by a bridge of arches, where the pre- 

 fent bridge ftands. The fagacious Dr. Stukeley imagines it is the 

 Ad Murum of Richard of Cirencefter in his map of Roman-Britain (b). 

 The Pifts wall goes through the vicarage-garden, and St. Nicho- 

 las's church-yard. Part of a turret upon it is Hill vifible by the 

 gate at the foot of the royal Saxon villa of Pampeden ; alfo a tower 

 on an eminence in the fame villa, called The WalLKnoivl, or Car- 

 pouter's tower, hereafter defcribed. No other Roman building, no 

 forts, palaces, temples, baths, fepnlchralia, or fepultures, altars', 

 medals, or coins, of any value or curiofity, have hitherto been 

 difcovered. Thofe valuable treafures were undoubtedly deftroyed 

 by the northern emigrants, the martial, unlettered Saxons and 

 Danes, who generally built upon Roman foundations, and retained 

 part of their old names, as Caftrum, Chejler, or Chefters, Burgos, or 

 Brongh, importing their being places of ftrength, fafety and fe* 

 curity. On their being converts to Chriftianity, it was ufual 

 with them, in the impetu of religious zeal, to efface and break to 

 pieces every thing that carried .the image and features of ethni-- 

 cifm; Roman curiofity, and Roman grandeur, meeting with no 

 protection. On their fettling in eommunities, they built this 

 town, and gave it the name of Monk-CheJler, for its being a fafe 

 and fecurc retreat to the profeffors of a monadic life. It retained 

 this name till the Norman conqueft by K. William I ; whofe fon, 

 Robert Curtoife, thinking it a fit place for a garrifon to reflrain the 

 martial, indomitable fpirit in the North, built a citadel on an emi- 

 nence, commanding the river, and called the town, Newcaftls 



(a) Dr. Hunter, and Mr. Horjley. Brit. Rom. p. 104. 



(b) Dr. Stukekys Account of RJclwrd and his Map, 410. Lond; 1757. p. 48. 



upon 



