282 
NOTE OX THE VALLUM IX RELATIOX TO THE ROMAX WALL FROM 
XEWCASTLE TO CARLISLE. 
BY THE REV. E. MAULE COLE, M.A., F.G.S. 
. {Rmd May '2'2nd, 1897.) 
Last year Professor Hughes, of Cambridge, kindly sent me 
some 50 of his papers bearing chiefly on geological subjects. Among 
them was one dealing with the above-named Vallum from a British 
standpoint, advocating the view that the Britons might have 
constructed the Valium as a defence against the Roman invaders 
advancing from the south. This idea strongly attracted me, for 
it was urged with ability and authority, but I felt that the point 
could not be conceded without personal investigation. It so 
happens that for the last thirty years I have had exceptional 
advantages for studying undoubted British entrenchments on the 
Yorkshire Wolds, and naturally thought that the experience thus 
gained would serve to elucidate the problem. I therefore suggested 
to my friend, Mr. J. R. Mortimer, of Drifiield, whose knowledge on 
the subject of entrenchments is very extensive, that we should make 
an excursion and examine a portion, at least, of the Vallum with 
minds unprejudiced ; though I am bound to confess that ni}^ own views 
were strongly impressed by the arguments of Professor Hughes. 
We started accordingly in June (1896) and took ujd our abode 
at Gilsland Spa, within easy reach of the Wall, Camps, and Vallum. 
We examined carefully every feature westward to Hare Hill, near 
Lanercost, and eastward to Borcovicus or Housesteads, and took 
sections of the Vallum. What struck me most was the extreme 
rectilinear line of the entrenchments from one point to another, so 
unlike the irregular line of earthworks to be seen at the Danes' 
Dike, Huggate Dikes, and other entrenchments on the Wolds of the 
East Riding. This was, perhaps, most noticeable some half-mile 
to the west of Birdoswald, the Roman station of Amboglanna. 
The line of entrenchments is here absolutely straight, as if ruled by 
a ruler. In this portion of the Vallum there is an additional ditch 
and mound, not found elsewhere, facing the north ; there is no 
appearance of a special defence facing the south, as contended for by 
some writers. The nature of the ground here is against any attack 
