6 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



this County, and running south-west, through a flat, swampy, mossy 

 country, falls into the Severn nearly opposite Wroxeter. The camp 

 at this place, which was twenty times larger than any other in this 

 part of the Island, together with two fortified rivers, would effectu- 

 ally prevent any annoyance from the Britons to the north and west, 

 and the necessity of keeping this post must have been apparent so 

 long as that part of the country remained unconquered. Roman 

 coins of almost every Emperor from Claudius to Valentinian, have 

 been found there.* 



Stukeley says: "Two miles beyond Etocetum, on the top of a 

 hill, is Knave's Castle, on the south side of Watling-street, a small 

 tumulus enclosed within three ditches ; an entrance on the south 

 side ; it has been hollowed on the top. This is a vast moor or com- 

 mon full of heath : the Watling is very fair and straight, and in 

 many places the ridge is perfect for a great length. A little west 

 of the bridge, under which the Penk crosses the Watling, are a few 

 houses belonging to Stretton, on an eminence : this is thought to 

 be Pennocruciurn. This village of Stretton is a little north of the 

 road, and a mile south is Breewood, a town on a branch of the 

 Penk, which they say has been an old city, where King John kept 

 his court ; a little brook called Horsebrook runs a pasture or two 

 below the road, and parallel to it ; the Penk is here a full river ; 

 the Watling is here east and west ; the old Roman city no doubt 

 was by the road side near here, and perhaps by Horsebrook. Bree- 

 wood may have been a Roman town, but it is too far out of the road 

 to have any connection with Watling-street, and Penkridge is too 

 miles and a half off, so that it can have no claim. This town must 

 have borrowed its name from the river, as that from the Roman city. 

 Penkridge stands by the side of a large marsh made by the river. 

 The church is built of good stone : a remarkable stone cross in the 

 street." 



Mr. Dickenson, who, in November 1796, surveyed this part of 

 the road with the eye of an antiquary, says : " Not a doubt remains 

 with me at present of the site of Uxacona having been at the mo- 

 dem village of Ocon-yate. One great difficulty occurred, viz. the 



* A Rom<m urn, dug up in agravel-pit at the corner of Stoke-lane, and east 

 entrance into Stone, is now in the possession of Mr. Forster, surgeon, of that 

 to;vn, who purchased it of the labourer that discovered it: it is bell-shaped, 

 beinc; nine inches diameter at the mouth, ten deep, and three and a half diame- 

 ter at the boUom : it is ornamented with zig-z:ig work, and contained some 

 ashes and small pieces of human bones. [For an account of Roman coins found 

 in Ihis county, see the article <l Camay i:"! 



