i9i4- I 9 I S-] Hadrian's Wall. 141 



gate to be the most formidable in its defensive works, but 

 this is not so. So far as strength is concerned, there is really 

 no difference between them, which is a strong indication that 

 these stations were in existence before the wall, and stood as 

 isolated forts for the protection of the military roads. The 

 west gate of Borcovicus shows the details clearly. Like all 

 the gateways of these stations it has a double portal, and 

 each gate consisted of two parts which shut against a 

 stone sill. A massive partition separates the two outer 

 entrances, and there is a corresponding interior one, for there 

 were double gates to the passage. Filling up the entire 

 depth of the passage on either side are the two guard-rooms, 

 which gave accommodation to the soldiers of the guard. This 

 was the ground-level, and beneath it are the foundations. 

 We get an idea of how massive these were by looking at 

 the foundation of the north gate. On a level with the 

 entrance is the massive central partition dividing the two 

 gates. Originally a roadway sloped downwards and out- 

 wards to the north, and it had to be cut away to expose 

 this work. 



Climbing up, we look at the gateway from the inside of the 

 station. The wall comes up to the north-east angle of the 

 station. Away to the east stretches the line of cliffs along 

 which the wall runs. On a hill close by are the remains of 

 many suburban dwellings. There is a well still surrounded 

 by Eoman masonry and still supplying excellent water, 

 although there is a better one in the valley to the right. 

 There is a story told in Bruce of two antiquaries, who, 

 after a cold and wet afternoon spent in examining the 

 station, were being directed to their sleeping quarters by 

 the shepherd, when the shepherd's wife, hearing that they 

 were interested in Roman affairs, asked in the Northumbrian 

 dialect if they would like a drink of Eoman water. The 

 shivering travellers, thinking that a little rum-and-water 

 would be most acceptable in the circumstances, joyfully 

 thanked her and accepted. What was their horror to see 

 the man take a bucket and proceed to the adjacent draw- 

 well. However, they put a brave face on the matter, drank 

 the icy beverage, and pronounced it excellent. The irony of 

 the situation lay in the fact that this particular well was not 



