HARDKNOT CAMP 151 



the praetorium and other extensive buildings, show- 

 ing that Hardknot has been a stationary summer 

 camp. Outside the camp, beside the praetorian gate, 

 a small circular temple has been exposed by digging, 

 as well as a tavern beside a well, where no doubt 

 the thirsty legionaries diluted their rations of heady 

 Gaulish wine. Excavation of the flanking towers 

 produced several spear-heads, immense quantities of 

 broken pottery, and a ring carved in intaglio. Al- 

 together, Hardknot remains one of the best preserved 

 Roman fortifications in Britain. It may have been 

 garrisoned by a cohort of four hundred and twenty 

 legionaries, besides which there was accommodation 

 for about fifteen hundred native auxiliaries, brought 

 there for the summer training. 



Not the least interesting feature in connection 

 with it is a campus martins higher up the mountain 

 side. Here a space of about sixty acres has been 

 cleared of stones, terraced and levelled, forming a 

 smooth lawn, in striking contrast to the rugged 

 wilderness around. At one corner of it is an 

 immense cairn, the burial-place probably of some 

 British brave ; and over all tower the dark crags of 

 Hardknot Fell. All is silent and lonely now; no 

 sound stirs, save the infrequent scream of the buz- 



