Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/32

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
18
THE MAIDEN WAY.

is a small green knowe, easily distinguished by its fresh greensward from the adjoining heath, with the ruins of a small circular watch-tower, three yards in diameter. By being thus placed it commands a view of the Little Beacon Tower and the Braes Tower, but it could not exchange signals with the Station at Bewcastle.

Another Way branches off here, taking a course a little more to the cast, and aiming for the Braes Tower, which stands on the rising ground on the opposite side of the valley. It passes a ruin at a place called "the Side;" a pistrina in Robert Calvert's meadow; the Cold Well at the foot of the Breckony-brow; on the east side of the High Oakstock; on the east side of the Bush Farm buildings; and joins the Maiden Way again at the Dollerline.

(130 yards.) At 8050 yards the Maiden Way enters the corner of the High-house Meadow, the boundary wall being built upon it for the last 130 yards. Here it makes a bend a little more to the west, and makes a direct aim towards the cairn on the north side of the Tower Brow. The wall, which is the boundary of the Side Fell, here makes a sharp turn to the east.

(160 yards.) At 8210 yards it enters the High-house pasture, crossing the fence about fifty yards from the Side ground. Here the footpath across the wastes from Gilsland leaves the Maiden Way. At the point where the Way crosses the fence, there appears to be a section of the road still left in the middle of the hedge, which is visible on the northern side. There is a watercourse running along it, eight inches square, and paved at the bottom. The stones are thickly coated with grey and brown crust; and it has the appearance of having been the work of the Romans.

(200 yards.) At 8410 yards it reaches the summit of a Brown knowe, a little to the south-west of the High-house Farm buildings. This knowe is covered with short stunted heather, very uneven, and abounds with large grey stones. From this knowe the Maiden Way makes a turn to the north-east, aiming direct for the Braes Tower, and through the Bush buildings, between the Barn and the Byers, There is also an appearance of the Way being continued straight forwards from this knowe to the cairn on the top of the Tower Brow, which is distant about 300 yards.

This cairn is a circular heap of stones about twenty yards