86 Roman Altar found at Qloster Hill. 



of the Teivi as "olim castoribus, nunc salmonibus abun- 

 dans."* In the later edition by Goagh, it is added,t that in 

 the Conway there is a deep, wide, still water, called to this 

 day by a name denoting the beaver's pool. Ray,:J followed 

 by Pennant,§ each referrmg to Giraldus, names also other 

 places in Wales which are reputed to have been the former 

 haunts of the animal, as we have shown that similar spots are 

 recognisable in England. 



Roman Altar found at Qloster Hill, in the Parish of 

 Warkworth. Communicated by Wm. Dickson. 



Gloster Hill is situated on the banks of the river Coquet, 

 near its entrance into the sea, in the vicinity of Warkworth 

 Harbour. The records of Northumberland are very silent as 

 to its ancient history, which is accounted for by its having 

 been for ages, part of the possessions of the church, and 

 therefore not liable to do any military services. It is one of 

 the townships of the parish of Warkworth, and parcel of the 

 rectory of that parish. 



The Bishoprick of Carlisle was founded by Henry I., and 

 this township (which was the glebe of the rectory) and the 

 great tithes of the parish, formed part of the endowment. The 

 Bishop has always been accustomed to demise this glebe and 

 the tithes to tenants for twenty-one years, renewable every 

 seven years on payment of fines. The present tenant is Robert 

 Dand, Esq. The township consists of 260 acres, and is worth 

 about ^290 yearly. In 1663 its annual rental was i^°38, and 

 the lessee, Mr. John Palfrey. 



It was never supposed that the Romans had any station in 

 this quarter, but from the name of the place, and its situation 

 near the mouth of the river, they probably had a stronghold 

 here. 



From Gloster Hill a short distance westward, is Temple 

 Hill, which is supposed to contain Roman remains, and 

 further west is Chester House, also a Roman name, (from 

 castrum), and further on still is the iStreet Head, all in the 

 parish. Probably a line of Roman road ran in this direction 

 from the interior to the sea port of Coquet mouth. 



As a corroboration of its Roman origin, a Roman altar was 

 found at Gloster Hill in 1856. It was turned up after being 

 struck by a plough. 



* Britannia (Lond. 1600), p. 586. 



fGoiigh's Camden, vol. ii., p. 560. 



^ Synopsis Methodica Anlmalium (1693), p. 213. 



§ British Zoology (ed. 1812), vol. i., p. 122. 



