Park a small Roman road was found by me in 1886,[1] pointing to the ferry, and close by a piece of Roman fresco, indicative of a Roman villa, a flint flake, and the place-name of Barrow Cliff.[2]
British Occupation.—In addition to what has been said already about their presence on Hunt's Bank, we have also from Red Bank a Neo-Celtic urn, figured and described in our vol. v., p. 295, and another one from Broughton Old Hall (now in Peel Park), and in connection with this subject I must also shortly allude to the various caves laid open during recent years on the banks of the Irwell and the Irk.
Caves.—In excavating at the river edge at the Parsonage, in May, 1899, four caves were met with, cut into the red rock, which exhibited distinct marks of the pickaxe. They were completely filled up with river ooze and mud, and measured 4 feet long, 3 feet 3 inches across, and 5 to 6 feet high (a sketch has been taken by Mr. Phelps for me). Another large cave was revealed at Old Millgate in July, 1899, facing the premises of Messrs. A. and C. Horsley, and at a place until then occupied by Jacob Libstein. Its apparent height was 12 feet, and it was about 8 feet wide and of great length. It was found during the extensive excavation for the extension of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, when pulling down the front row of houses which then lined the elevated banks of the Irk. The original slopes were visible for a a week or two, and at the margin and foot of the south bank this big cave stood out. The opposite north bank,
