IX THE XORTH RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. 3J.9 there is a slight depression on the west, with a httle change in the colour of the vegetation, which may mark the curve of ancient ditch ; and the soil on the more eastern part of the hill has that black appearance, so constantly observable within the area of ancient camps. The present tenant, Mr. Carter, cannot remember that anything was ever dug up within the oval area ; but on the north there is a drain or conduit for water, running under the castle, formed of cut stone, which he saw opened some time since, when the water from the fine spring, which is near to the spot, was conveyed to his farm-house : the spring- is called Tibby's Well. He lately found an ancient stone celt about 400 yards south-west of the Castle Hill, about three inches long, with a mean width of two inches. The ftirm and castle stand within the parish of Gilling, close to the spot where it is joined by Mouldran, in Aske, in the parish of Easby. The site has a most commanding view of the country to the east and north, but the ground rises abruptly to the west and south. Thornbrough (Cataractonium) is visible from Castle Hill, as well as Diderston. Though Bowes (Lavatrtc) and Reycross are far beyond our district, a word may be said concerning them. The Roman road from Greta Bridge to Bowes, the Lavatra) of the Romans,^ does not aj^jDear to have been made straight, though there is no reason why it should not have been so ; it makes a considerable angle at the corner of Rokeby Park, about half a mile from the Greta, and after passing the source of the Tutta brook, bends more to the south, and, without any great change of direction, runs towards Bowes, where it seems to have entered the station at the central gate origi- nally, though now the road runs through what was probably the ditch of the Station, and also that of the Castle subsequently, as conjectured by Horsley. " " That hero was the Lavatrce of An- slure, vol. i., p. 1!)9. "This is a very iiu- tonine, and the Lavatrcsof the Notitiaj, no usual situation for a Roman station, being antiquary ever doubted. It is equally clear placed on the bleak exposed summit of a that vestiges of the name yet remain in moderate elevation, ill-watered, and wholly the name of the adjoining stream, still unsheltered ; but the len<^th and difticul- called Laver. This was ])robably the ties of tiie march from Urough probably British appellation, and denominated the account for the selection of this halting fortress itself." — Whitaker's Richmond- place." Ibid.
