ROMAN MINOR SETTLEMENTS, ETC. 1 95 



north-east of Whaley Bridge, in the parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith, 

 upon the estate of Thomas Guy Gisborne, Esquire, and near to 

 Horwich House, is one of these Rhedagua. It has always borne 

 the name Roosdyche, and is now in a very perfect state of 

 preservation, and might at this moment over a considerable part 

 of it, be used as a race course. It is an artificially formed 

 valley, averaging in width 40 paces, and 1300 paces in length. 

 It is in a great measure cut out of the side of the hill to a 

 depth of from 10 to 30 feet, but where it is not so, it is enclosed 

 on both sides, with banks of earth. The sides of that part which 

 has been excavated and covered with oak and other trees, which 

 form a noble avenue and invest it with a majestic and sombre 

 character. At the east end of the course is the goal, and at the 

 west end are the remains of the Metas, and other tumuli, and 

 also several other valleys of smaller dimensions than the Rhedagua, 

 where it is probable the chariots and horses not actually occupied 

 in the race were placed until their turn arrived to engage in the 

 noble strife. The spectators were doubtless ranged upon the sides 

 or banks, on each side of the course all along its length ; and 

 many thousands might easily have found accommodation." 



This place is also described by Mr. H. H. Vale, in Vol. xix. 

 of the Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Ches- 

 hire, p. 43. Without denying the correctness of the views of these 

 gentlemen, it seems singular that such a race course should have 

 been placed at so great a distance from any of the Britanno-Roman 

 towns, and the nearest of these only small ones. Had it been 

 placed outside the walls of St. Albans, York, Chester, or some of 

 the large Roman towns, its character would have been at once 

 recognised. In this instance where would the spectators come 

 from ? Was the spot a Britanno-Roman Epsom ? 



Hoards of Coins. 



The hoards of coins found, though perhaps not so numerous 

 as in some other counties, are still considerable. The earliest 

 record of a discovery of coins appears to be that given by 

 Philip Kinder in his MS. " Historie of Darbyshire," preserved 

 in the Bodleian Library amongst the Ashmole Collection. It 



