Notices by the Rev. T. Surridge ... of Roman Inscriptions Discovered at High Rochester, Risingham and Rudchester, in Northumberland/Risingham
RISINGHAM.
It has been before proved in my letter of the 5th of January last, that High Rochester, in the Parish of Elsdon, could not have been the Roman Bremenium mentioned in the itinerary of Antoninus, and it will now be shown why Risingham is more probably its locality. According to the authority of Camden, Morpeth was the Roman Corstopitum, and according to the itinerary, the distance from Bremenium to Corstopitum was twenty Roman miles, equal to a little more than eighteen English miles, or the present distance of Risingham from Morpeth exactly. Besides, the portal inscription found at Risingham shows it to have been a station of some importance, and its sheltered situation would induce the supposition that it was, in all likelihood, selected for the head quarters of the Roman Army, and the residence of the Court.
Southern Portal Stone of Risingham, Northumberland, discovered
October, 1844.
TITO ANTONINO PIO
PONTIFICE MAXIMO PP
MARCOMANNIAICO MAXI
CoS III TF MAURELIANToNINo Ro
CoS II AUGGS VERoCoMMoDoLUoCEIoNIo
PoRTAM CUMMURSVETUSTATEDI
LAPSIS IUSS VALENSENEC INSUo
CoS CURANTE QEL ATINI ADVENTo PRO
AUGGNNOS M VANCoNo PFs
CUM AEM SALVIAN TRB
SUo ASoLo REST
Translation.
In the Reign of the Emperor Titus Antoninus Pius Cæsar, Marcomanniaicus Maximus,—Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Son of Titus being for the third time, and Lucius Ceionius Commodus Verus the second time, Consuls of Rome and Roman Emperors (Augustis) by the commands of Valens Seneca in his Consulate, and under the care of Q.E.L. Atinius Adventus Vanconous the Prefect, together with Emilius Salvianus the Tribune, acting for our Emperors, rebuilt from their foundation this Gate with the Walls fallen into ruins from [1]Antiquity.
The parts which are lost and erased are marked in Italics.
PORTAL STONE OF THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE OF RISINGHAM STATION NORTHUMBERLAND DISCOVERED OCTR. 1844.
Drawn by John Bell. Lamberts Zincy, Newcastle
- ↑ It would require two centuries at least to cause a Roman Wall to fall into ruins from antiquity; hence, we may conclude this station was built in the time of Julius Cæsar, Marcus Aurelius and Verus Commodus being Consuls in a.d. about 161.