Page:Roman Manchester (1900) by Charles Roeder.djvu/177

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ROMAN MANCHESTER RE-STUDIED.
115

Bardsey, Uwch Conwy; and the Celtic place-names, Uxelo-dunum; and, on the continent, Ocello-durum, Ocellum Durii (Fermosella, Spain), Ocellum (=Exiles, France).

In its Celtic garb it would probably be Maen-awch=Stone edge, as we have it in Stanedge, Blackstone Edge, and the German Stein-ach and Hohen-eck. Now, I consider that both forms. Red stones or rocks, and Stone edge describe exactly the physical and characteristic features of Hunt's Bank in general and particular. The first refers to the whole face of the split and cleft red promontory, and the latter more minutely describes the stone ledge itself on which the British dun must have been founded.

Roman campaigning against native tribes did not materially differ in some aspects with practices observed in modern times. To make matters homely, we have only to follow warfare in South Africa and Matabeleland to form a mental picture of what was done by the legions under Cerealis, or Agricola against the Brigantian hill and mountain clans. The natives here, after offering a certain resistance in their stronghold and from their lurking places at and about Hunt's Bank, were probably driven off, and the place was at once occupied by the conquerors for fixing their own camp. To what degree they then further strengthened the place we have no means yet to ascertain, in want of extensive excavation at the College or Cathedral. They, no doubt, remained there until, as a more suitable situation, after studying the terrain, they proceeded to the erection of the large and more expansive station at Castlefield, more suited to their purposes. Later on, the natives were probably allowed to return, while the Roman military sphere was transferred to the new site at the Medlock. In conse-