51 
ROMAN MANCHESTER. 
Tuesday, April 23rd, 1907. 
Some members of the Club availed themselves of arrange- 
ments which had been made on their behalf, to inspect the 
site of the ancient Roman camp — Mancunium. Important 
excavations had recently been made, and, hi deed, were in 
progress, on a spare piece of ground formerly occupied as 
a timber yard, and situated in Duke-place, off Deansgate. 
Knowledge of the approximate situation of the western wall 
of the camp was possessed, but there was no evidence in 
existence of its exact position. The line of the eastern wall 
is established by the fragment of it now remaining, and 
which was inspected by the party. Under the guidance of 
Mr. J. J. Phelps the party were shown the length of western 
wall, with a remarkable pathway within the .camp, which 
the efforts of the Excavation Committee had brought to light. 
It should be stated that the work has been carried out by 
the Manchester and District branch of the Classical Association, 
of which Professor Conway, of Victoria University, is the 
chairman. The construction of the wall was described, and 
the places where discoveries of pottery and other remains 
had been made were pointed out. Foundations of buildings 
within the camp had been found, but no indication of the 
gateway had yet been seen. The camp measured 157 by 
140 yards, and was rectangular. It was strongly placed at 
the junction of the Medlock and the Irwell, and a series of 
maps which had been prepared admirably illustrated the 
nature of the situation. Mancunium was not a city, but a 
Roman garrison town. Many of the great roads centred 
there. The British camp was situated at the junction of the 
Irk and Irwell, and was protected by ditches. The Cathedral 
occupies the site of this ancient camp. Mr. Phelps exhibited 
a considerable collection of finds, including millstones, bricks, 
tiles, articles of use and adornment, fragments of pottery, 
the capital of a column, etc. Inscriptions of great interest 
were deciphered. The excavations will shortly be brought 
to a close, for the place is to be the scene of building operations. 
There now crosses the site of the camp a network of railway 
lines, so that the contrast between the present and the past 
is most striking. The members of the party expressed their 
appreciation of the zeal of the committee in revealing the 
exact limits of the Roman fortress, and providing historical 
results of supreme interest. 
