Sheppard: The Early History of Filey. 271 
The earliest paper I have been able to trace on this subject 
was read to the Society of Antiquaries, London, on May 17th, 
1832, by ‘ John Walker, Esq., of Malton.’ It is entitled, 
‘ Observations to prove Filey Bay, in Yorkshire, the Portus 
Felix or Sinus Salutaris ; and Flamborough Head, the Ocellum 
Promontorium of the Romans.’ The author begins by stating 
that, ‘ In the year 1821 a respectable gentleman (!), Thomas 
Thompson, Esq., of Cottingham Castle, published ‘ Ocellum 
Promontorium ’ in which he opined that Spurn was the 
promontory Ocellum.’ John Walker, Esq., then proceeds to 
show that the respectable gentleman, Thomas Thompson, Esq., 
was all wrong, and various latin quotations and derivations, 
measurements of longitude and latitude are given to show 
that Walker was right. But the paper does not appear to 
Squared Stones from the Roman site at Filey. 
( After Cortis). 
contain a single sentence which contains any real evidence of 
Roman occupation at Filey. 
In 1858, however, we have perhaps the most important 
paper on the subject. It is entitled, ‘ Remarks on the Dis- 
covery of Roman and British Remains at Filey, Yorkshire, in 
October, 1857, with some observations on the position of 
Portus Felix and Prsetorium, by W. S. Cortis, M.D 
Scarborough, 1858.’ We will leave the ‘ observations on the 
Portus Felix ’ and deal with the discoveries. They were made 
on the top of Carr Naze, as the result of a landslip. The founda- 
tions of two walls were found, 22 feet apart ; towards the middle 
were five squared stones, evidently supports for the bases of 
props or pillars, and by their side were the foundations of 
apparently a small room. The squared stones were about 20 
inches high and four were placed at equal distances apart ; 
1914 Sept. 1. 
