ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



term ' Roman Camp.' The site is in the centre of Mellor Moor, upon- 

 the rounded top of the highest hill in the neighbourhood, which rises 

 735 ft. above sea-level ; the sides of the hill slope away gradually all 

 round, making the position an excellent one. The views on all sides are- 

 exceedingly extensive, ranging from the estuary of the Ribble on the west 

 to the mountains of the Pennine Chain on the east ; a finer spot for 

 erecting a fortified post could hardly be imagined. The ' camp ' is but small, 

 inclosing an oblong interior area only 60 ft. long by 35 ft. broad ; this is 

 raised about 3 ft. above the level of the adjoining ground. Around it is a 

 rampart, now 2 ft. high, inclosed by a fosse about 5 ft. deep from its upper- 

 most edge. Outside this is a second rampart, rising about 2 ft. higher than 

 the ground outside. The inclusive measurements of the work and its defences- 

 are 130 ft. by 1 10 ft., and the ground covered 

 by it is about three-eighths of an acre. 



This earthwork has been described as 

 Roman by many writers, partly on account of 

 its form, and partly because of its supposed 

 connexion with the Roman fortress at Rib- 

 chester. It has also been suggested that it is 

 a small homestead moat, which it somewhat 

 resembles in size and plan ; but the situation 

 is far too exposed and bleak for that. The 

 work would seem rather to be a military out- 

 post of some sort, perhaps dating from the 

 days of the Civil War. That it is not of the 

 time of the young Stuart Pretender, as has 

 been suggested, is proved by the fact that it 

 was mentioned by Dr. Kuerden before the 

 close of the seventeenth century.** 



Below is a list of earthworks which can 

 either still be seen or have been described by Mellor 



various writers as formerly existing in the dis- 

 trict. Pending further investigation and classification, they must here be 

 placed in Class X, as falling under none of the previous headings. Whether 

 all of these are ancient defensive works is doubtful. The list also includes 

 works, now or formerly extant, which date from the seventeenth century. 

 These remains of ' mudde walles ' for town defence and 'orbicular sconces' 

 and ' mounts ' for ordnance, which were thrown up by Roundheads and 

 Cavaliers, have occasionally, as in the case of the ramparts which seventy 

 years ago encircled Wigan, been ascribed to earlier ages. 



SCALE. OF FELT 

 100 ^00 %00 



SECTi N from AfoB. 

 Lntarged double size of Plan 



A ^ ^ ^^ ^ 8u 



Aughton, nr. Ormskirk. ' Trenchfield,' 1 7th 

 century. 



Blackrod, nr. Wigan. Castle Croft. 

 Blatchinworth and Calderbrook, nr. Rochdale. 

 Blackstone Edge, 17 th century. 



BrierclifFe with Extwistle, nr. Burnley. Small 



square work on Beadle Hill. 

 Briercliffe with Extwistle, nr. Burnley. Smalli 



square work, Twist Castle. 

 Broughton, nr. Manchester. Castle Hill. 

 Bury. Castle Croft. 



" Whittaker, Fm^. Whalley, ii, 396 ; Baines, Hi/A of Lanes, (ed. 1868), ii, 94 ; Watkins, Roman Lanes. 55,. 

 218 (quotes Kuerden) ; Garstang, Ribchester Ref. (1898), 13 ; Ord. Surv. i-in. 75, old 89 ; 6-in. 62 NE. y 

 25-in. 62, 7. 



2 553 70 



