Old English Chronicles - Unknown

Iter XI.			Sites of the Stations.
(104) Ab Aquis, per Viam Juliam, Menapiam usque, sic:—			From Bath by the Julian Way to St. David's.
		Corrected Numbers.
(108) Ad Abonam m.p.	VI	VI}	Bitton
(109) Ad Sabrinam	VI	VIIII}	Bitton
Unde Trajectu [710] intras in Britanniam Secundam			Sea Mills.
(110) Et Stationem Trajectum [711]	III	III	Severn Side.
(111) Venta Siluru [712]	VIII	VIIII	Caerwent.
(112) Isca Colonia Unde fuit Aaron Martyr.	VIIII	VIIII	Caerleon.
(113) Tibia Amne [713]	VIII	XV	Banks of the Tanf, possibly Caireu or Caerdiff.
(114) Bovio	XX	XX	In Evenny Park.
(115) Nido	XV	XX	Near Neath.
(116) Leucaro	XV	X	Perhaps Lwghor.
(Muridunum omit.	XX)	XX	Caermarthen.
(117) Ad Vigesimum	XX	XX	Castel Flemish.[714]
(118) Ad Menapiam	XVIIII	XVIII	Near St. David's.
Ab hac urbe per m.p.	XXX
Navigas in Hyberniam.

As the course of the Roman road connecting the stations of this Iter is still discernible, we do not hesitate in correcting the imperfections of Richard by the corresponding Iter of Antonine. At Bitton, six miles from Bath, we find marks of a post attended with tumuli, which whether called Abone or Trajectus[715] is of little importance, because, like the next, Sea Mills, it will suit either appellation, from its position on the Avon, and commanding a passage over that river. From Bitton the Roman way ran nearly in the direction of the present turnpike, north of the river as far as St. George's church; thence it proceeded straight near St. Paul's; ascended the Downs behind Mr. Daubeney's house to the direction-post, from whence it crossed Durdham Down, and skirted Mrs. Jackson's park wall to Sea Mills, a great maritime post at the confluence of the Trim and the Avon. It continued by Lord De Clifford's house straight to the Severn, crossed that river, and passed by Caldecot Castle through Caerwent and Caerleon to the bank of the Taaf and Evenny Park, which last place Roman remains lead us to conjecture was the site of Bovium. At Neath we have also little hesitation in fixing the site of Nidus, because a road from the Gaer near Brecon evidently leads to the same spot.

The remainder of this Iter is obscure. Leucaro has been fixed at Lwghor, principally from the resemblance of the name. From thence the road may have run to Caermarthen (Maridunum), which appears to have been omitted; and was probably continued as straight as the country would permit to Castel Flemish and St. David's, where we would place the stations Vigesimum and Menapia.[716]

Iter XII.			Sites of the Stations.
(104) Ab Aquis Londinium usque, sic:—
		Corrected Numbers.
(119) Verlucione m.p.	XV	XV	Highfield, near Sandy Lane.
(120) Cunetione	XX	XV	Folly farm, E. of Marlborough.
(121) Spinis	XV	XX	Spene.
(122) Calleva Atrebatum	XV		Silchester.
(123) Bibracte	XX}	XXXXIIII	London.
(5) Londinio	XX}	XXXXIIII	London.

As the traces of a Roman road from Bath towards Marlborough are still visible, we have only to examine in what points of its course remains have been found sufficient to justify us in determining the sites of the different stations. Accordingly, at fifteen miles from Bath we have Highfield, in Sandy Lane, near Heddington; and at fifteen more Folly Farm, near Marlborough. From hence twenty miles bring us to Spene; and although at this place few remains have been discovered, yet the direction of another Roman road, from Cirencester to the same point, sufficiently proves the existence of a station. Of the site of Calleva at Silchester [717] there can be little doubt; although the course of the road from Spene is uncertain. The road from Silchester, still known by the name of the Devil's Causeway, as it runs over Bagshot Heath, as well as evident traces of it between Staines and London, still exist; but the intermediate station of Bibracte is doubtful. If the numbers in this Iter be correct, we cannot deviate from the straight line, and this post must be placed near the hill at Egham, or the head of the Virginia Water.

Iter XIII.			Sites of the Stations.
(112) Ab Isca Uriconium usque, sic:—			From Caerleon to Wroxeter.
		Corrected Numbers.
(124) Bultro m.p.	VIII	VIII	Usk.
(125) Gobannio	XII	XII	Abergavenny.
(126) Magna	XXIII	XXIII	Kentchester.
(127) Branogeni	XXIII	XXIII	Lentwardine.
(18) Urioconio	XXVII	XXVII	Wroxeter.

The beginning of this Iter cannot be traced, notwithstanding two out of the three stations are well known; and we have little doubt that Baltrum or Burrium was at Usk (though no Roman remains have been found there), because the distance given from Caerleon to Gobannium or Abergavenny will not admit of any deviation from the straight line. From Abergavenny, after passing the Munnow, the Roman road still exists, particularly near Madley, pointing to Kentchester, and from thence may be traced by the next post of Lentwardine on the Teme, to Wroxeter.