Black Dyke and British Camps. By James Tait. 309 



Eeturning to the Black Dyke, it was next found running down 

 the Black Hill spur in the direction of West Morriston. All 

 along this part of its course stone coffins have been turned up 

 by the plough in former times ; indeed, occasional spots are 

 spoken of by old residenters as ancient burying grounds. This 

 seems to favour that etymology of " Legerwood " which explains 

 it as ** Deadmen's Wood. " 



The Black Dyke, passing on its right an old camp and shortly 

 after on its left a great gravelly knowe called " Kelso Hill, " now 

 removed, left the farm of West Morriston and the Parish of 

 Legerwood, and entered the farm of Purveshaugh, which is in 

 the Parish of Earlstoun. It passed at some distance west from 

 the steading of Purveshaugh, having on its right side the old farm 

 house of Standingstone, which has taken its name from a 

 " Standingstone " standing in a corner of the steading. This 

 stone has no marks of any description, and looks westward to a 

 large circular camp of the Ancient Britons — a ''round about, " 

 situated on an eminence of moderate height. The Black Dyke 

 passed on through the farm of Purveshaugh, crossing a field 

 where, some years ago, a labourer while cutting a drain, turned 

 up a horn containing about 150 silver coins mostly of the reign 

 of Edward I. of England, The Black Dyke next crossed the 

 most easterly field on the farm of Georgefield, from which it 

 proceeds on towards a moor on the farm of Yarlside, where for 

 about half a mile it is in its best state, and where any one who 

 wishes to see the small remains of the Black Dyke must go. In 

 all other parts of its course it is at the best no more than faintly 

 discernible, but at this part is given a very fair idea of what the 

 Black Dyke was throughout most of its course within the memory 

 of the present generation. The Black Dyke next proceeded 

 across the farm of Park and entering the Parish of Mertoun, 

 crossed the western part of the farm of Brotherstone, and passed 

 the east end of Eedpath Hill, where seems to have been a British 

 Camp. 



This farm of Brotherstone takes its name from two standing- 

 stones, standing in a field eastward from the farm steading. 

 These stones are less weather-beaten than most standing-stones 

 and perhaps there is truth in the traditional statement that they 

 are comparatively modern and erected in memory of two brothers 

 who here slew each other. Here is the site of the ancient village 

 of Wrangham, not a stone of which now remains. This village 



