The Fourteenth Station: Aballaba; now Watch Cross
Hadrian’s Wall. Photo from Wikipedia.
It is sometimes called Scaleby Castle. This is still a less Station, and the least in the line: fifty-three miles from Newcastle, and five from Carlisle; lies more than a mile South of all the works; and for what use placed here by Agricola is uncertain, except to guard a road. This is the fourth Station of the eighteen, which is detached from the Wall.
A Roman road proceeds from Walwick Chesters, already mentioned; takes a course like the string of a bow for twenty-six miles, and then joins the Wall near Wallby. A branch of this road runs up to Thirlwell Castle. It also communicates with Little Chesters, and Carvoran, both detached Stations. The same road extends to two other Out-Stations; for, by passing through Crakes-town, and Burtham, it reaches Cambeck Fort; and then, through Newton and Irthington, it reaches Watch Cross, proceeds on to Low Crosby, and W allby, as above.
It is said, the kingdom at the time I am speaking of was full of timber; and that the Romans occasionally cleared it away, to make their roads, and to faciliate a passage for large bodies of men, provisions, &c. which could not, in many places, have been conveyed without.
When they had formed the roads, it became equally necessary to guard them. Hence these four Southern Stations. As a farther security to this long and naked part of the Wall, in after-ages, was erected Scaleby Castle, which, like Thirlwell, lies at a small distance North of Severus; this, perhaps, three hundred yards, and Thirlwell, one, which became a tolerable defence.
While the Wall was new, it was well guarded, which insured peace. The principal offices under Severus and his successors frequently procured grants of land, upon which they erected Castles of defence; and, as a gentleman who knew the whole line, remarked to me, they chose the most fertile spots in the country. Scaleby was one of those grants. The Tilliots owned it about the time of King John; then the Pic kerings, the Musgraves, the Gilpins; and it is now the property of William Richardson, Esq. of Wallby; but, like the fortifications of the Wall, is in ruins.
I now pass Bleatern, where the Wall is said “to run through mossy ground, and they were obliged to erect it upon piles of wood.” But I saw no piles of wood, or mossy ground, though I sought for both, neither an occasion for piles.
Bleatern stands upon elevated ground, able to support a wall without the help of wood; besides, had there been mossy ground, Severus’s ditch, in high condition here, would have drained the land for the Wall. I found, however, as much attention paid me, within the house, as I wished.
All the way from Bleatern to Wallby, more than a mile, the common high-way, (not the turnpike road,) is on the Wall itself; with the ditch on my right. I asked a gentleman, who was amusing himself in his garden by the road, some questions relative to my pursuit; who answered with great civility,
“Will you step in, Sir, and take a glass?”
What man, like me, burnt up by a midday sun, could refuse? Besides I was in a country where I could not purchase. The solicitation repeated, I accepted the kind offer. He took me into his elevated summer-house.
“I do not reside here, but come occasionally to amuse myself with the prospect (which was fine); have brought a bone of lamb, and wish you to partake.” After a slight apology, I made a hearty dinner, and drank what I chose; in my situation a small draught could not suffice.
From his window, he explained the whole country, attended me on the way, and pointed out every object of use.
“May I, Sir, request the name of the gentleman, who has treated me with the most generous hospitality?”
“The Rev. Michael Wheelwright, of Carlisle.”
I now pass a mill, where I was shewn, in a field, the line of the Wall, with the stones hacked up. The field was in tillage. Here the sight is gone for ever. Pass Drawdikes, the seat of the Aglionby’s where many inscriptions have been found.
Before I arrive at Stanwix, and in the road to Tarraby, I pass through a field where Severus’s Wall is the identical footway, with his faint ditch by its side.
Note: Aballava is now thought to be the name for the station at Burgh, rather than here.Links:
P. Aelius Hadrianus at the Vicipaedia
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