and the 1st January, 1894, having entirely swept away the greater portion of the Station, without archæological result. The relics previously recovered are fully described in Dr. Kendrick's Guide to the Roman Remains in the Warrington Museum; while the late Mr. W. Thompson Watkin's exhaustive treatise on Roman Cheshire, dated 1886, summarises everything known and reported down to the date of the commencement, at the end of 1895, of the recent excavations. As the most interesting points regarding the Station are still matters of uncertainty, it will pave the way for discussion to furnish a brief summary of what has been definitely established. (1) The Station itself was clearly one of secondary importance. It was no more than a mansio, or halting place, at the end of the average day's journey or march (rather less than 20 English miles) of the legions along the two great military highways, leading northwards through Wigan (Coccium), and north-eastwards through Manchester (Mancunium), from Chester (Deva)-for over 300 years the head quarters of the 20th legion-on the one hand, and Kinderton (Condate) beyond Northwich, on the other. These mansiones, or halting-places, were originally castra, formed by making earthen entrenchments, and were afterwards provided with barracks, magazines of provisions, and accommodation for travellers of all descriptions. The one at Wilderspool was probably garrisoned by a cohort of the socii, or auxiliaries attached to the 20th legion, the Valerian, Victorious, from the neighbouring head-quarter camp. (2) The site, when chosen, was on a lingula, or tongue of land, protected by the river Mersey in front, and by two small streams, the Cress or Cramond and Lumbrook, on either hand, and it occupied an important strategical posi 1 Vide Dr. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. tion at the head of the tidal portion of the river, where it ceased to be navigable for large vessels and first became fordable. (3) Since the Roman departure the Station has never been covered or concealed by streets and buildings or the reliquiæ of many succeeding generations, as in the case of Chester, Lancaster, Manchester, Newcastle-onTyne, and several other large towns. The site has from time immemorial been an open one, known as Stockton Heath, a name suggestive of the proximity of a stockade, fossa et vallum, or earthen rampart, surmounted by the rows of stakes of which the legionary soldiers carried each two or three for the purpose. This will account for the fact that the building materials found upon the surface have long been used up by the surrounding population, and no further discoveries of importance can be looked for. As to the time when or the general by whom the Station was erected, the character and employment of the inhabitants, or even the precise dimensions and Roman name of the encampment, nothing but conjectures are possible. One thing may, however, with certainty be inferred, viz., that the Station, being on a frontier exposed to incursions from the sea, was fortified so long as it remained in occupation. The principal area marked out for excavation is on the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, about half-way between the swing bridge at Wilderspool, and the side-cutting to connect the Canal and river near Walton Lock. It lies within the boundary of the Ship Canal Company's property, and also, by the recent Extension Act, 9th November, 1896, forms part of the borough of Warrington and county of Lancaster. The length is 450 feet, and the breadth at one end 40 feet, and at the other 100 feet, equal to a total area of 3,500 sq. yds.; the average thickness being 15 feet. As indicated by these dimensions, it forms a long, narrow strip, of considerable thickness, and includes: (1) a bed of undisturbed glacial sand, current bedded, and intercalated with strips of gravel and round lumps of boulder clay; (2) a layer, 2 to 5 feet thick, of soil; and (3) an accumulation (over some portions) of sand and rubbish, from the cutting of two canals. By the courtesy of Mr. Frank Warburton, builder, of Stockton Heath, I have been enabled to make observations and collect specimens; and the Roman altar discovered by me, has been presented, by that gentleman, to the Warrington Museum. The preservation of the specimens is also greatly due to the care and intelligent cooperation of John Houghton, the workman employed in excavating. The changes produced by the cutting of the Ship Canal, have rendered the hitherto published Ordnance Survey maps unserviceable; and I am indebted to Mr. F. B. Greenwood, resident engineer, for a corrected map on the 25-inch scale, showing the principal landmarks in the vicinity. A plan and section, on the scale of 1 in. to 8 ft., showing the exact position of the principal discoveries, has been prepared by your local secretary, Mr. Wm. Owen, F.R.I.B.A., from measurements taken in September and December this year (1896); and, along with drawings of the altar and other relics, forms the most interesting and instructive portion of my paper. The portions already excavated are shown by cross lines on the vertical longitudinal section. On the plan they are left blank, and the cross lines indicate the natural surface. The stratum of surface soil exposed along the face of the cutting, in the lower portion of which |