A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



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recently the Manchester Classical Association has endeavoured to initiate 



a systematic uncovering of the fort. 



The fort was a rectangular oblong, measuring about 380 by 355 feet, 



and containing inter- 

 nally not quite three 

 acres (fig. 17). It was 

 defended by a rampart 

 and at least on its 

 south and east sides 

 by a fosse. The 

 rampart did not con- 

 sist of stone like that 

 of Brough, but of a 

 stone facing, backed 

 by rubble and boulder 

 clay taken probably 

 from the fosse. The 

 facing, about two feet 

 in thickness, was of 

 excellent coursed ma- 

 sonry, and near the 

 north-east corner con- 

 tained an inscribed 

 centurial stone. The 

 rubble, thickest at the 

 ground level, made a 

 backing of 4 or 5 feet, 

 and the earth added 

 another 15 feet. No 

 inner facing of stone 

 could be found. Such 





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FIG. 17. MELANDRA, AS EXCAVATED IN 1899. 

 (Derbyshire drch<eohgcal Journal.) 



a rampart is unusual, and may possibly be earlier in date than the 

 commoner wall of stone which encircles Brough. Four gateways can 

 be distinguished. The eastern one, opened in 1899, had two flanking 

 guard-chambers, and an entrance 20 feet wide, probably divided into two 



(INSIDE OF FORT) 



Clay &c. 



EASTERN 



FEET 5 



O 



cr 



LU 



-j 



u 



c 

 Q 



GATEWAY 



10 20 



Masonry 



FIG. 1 8. 

 212 



