Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/271

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FROM THE ROMAN WALL NORTHWARD INTO SCOTLAND. 235 long, and 18 feet broad, with walls three feet thick. The position is suited for a fort to defend the passage of the river. If the Romans were at the trouble of making bridges at these fords, it is only reasonable to suppose that they would also erect forts, and station garrisons to prevent them from being destroyed. The river Kershope runs at the bottom of a deep gorge, and the ground rises very abruptly from it for more than a quarter of a mile on each side.^ It tumbles over a series of rough shapeless stones till it loses itself in the Liddal. It forms the boundary line between England and Scotland the whole length of its course. On its banks in former times the contending nations frequently held their councils for regulating the affairs of the Border. The scenery of Kershope Pass is of a wild, naked, and romantic character. 2 The name Kershope may be derived called Kershope is a celebrated grazing from the Saxon Carre or Carse, a plain, farm at this day. On the eastern side of a pasture, and Hope, Sax., heafod, Teut. Kershope there was formerly a very large haupt, a liead ; the head or most eastern tract of woodland which reached from p;u't of the cattle pasture. The farm Roanstrees to the Cheviot Hills. {To he contimied.)