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© Saddleworth Archaeological Trust , 2007 |
Roman Altar at Castleshaw
Recently Saddleworth Historical Society has re-printed James Butterworth’s ‘History of Saddleworth’ 1828. In the excellent introduction to the re-print, Dr Robert Poole warns the reader that Butterworth ‘ pastes in quotations taken by Bottomley* from two sources; John Whitaker’s ponderous History of Manchester (1770-3) and the 1775 History
of Halifax by the Stockport antiquarian, the Revd John Watson.
Butterworth, on page.25, states that a Roman altar has been discovered on the site of Castlehill, it is of a square form with many plain ornaments etc. He then states on page. 26 that the Rev Mr. Whitaker speaks of the altar found at Castlehill, in Saddleworth.
No altar is known from Castleshaw and Butterworth must have confused the information placed before him.
The story of the altar begins in 1757 when Watson, whilst tracing the course of the Roman road close to the present site of the Roman fort at Slack, near Huddersfield, stumbled upon the altar in a farm-yard. He persuaded the farmer to show him the spot where it was found which turned out to be on the western side of the bath-house outside the fort at Slack. Watson kept the altar in his possession for several years and eventually presented it to Whitaker along with
another inscribed stone.
Whitaker, (on page 130 of his ‘History of Manchester,’) whilst exploring the ‘Eald’ (old) fields in the township of Longwood came upon the foundations of a building. The site turned out to be that of the Roman fort at Slack and the building was that of the bath-house where the altar was found.. When translated the inscription on the altar reads ; Caius Antonius Modestus Centurion of the Sixth Victorious Pious and Faithful Legion, consecrated
this altar to Fortune and with pleasure discharged the vow he owed.
Butterworth, on page.25, states that a Roman altar has been discovered on the site of Castlehill, it is of a square form with many plain ornaments etc. He then states on page. 26 that the Rev Mr. Whitaker speaks of the altar found at Castlehill, in Saddleworth.
No altar is known from Castleshaw and Butterworth must have confused the information placed before him.
The story of the altar begins in 1757 when Watson, whilst tracing the course of the Roman road close to the present site of the Roman fort at Slack, near Huddersfield, stumbled upon the altar in a farm-
The Roman fort at Slack would be under the
command of the Legionary Fortress at York. About
the year 120AD the Sixth Victrix legion replaced
the Ninth Hispana legion. Modestus, the man who
dedicated the altar, was a centurion in the Sixth
Legion. He was probably in command of a
detachment of legionaries who had come to Slack
to carry out necessary building work.
The myth of a Roman Altar at Castleshaw raises its
head again in 1871 in ’Saddleworth Sketches’ by
Joseph Bradbury. In the section entitled ‘Roman
Remains’ on page 141, Bradbury repeats the statement made by Butterworth. As sources of information, books written in the 18th and 19th century do provide a certain amount of useful facts, but in the light of modern knowledge and research, and bearing in mind the sources of information the authors had available to them, we must exercise great care when quoting from them.
command of the Legionary Fortress at York. About
the year 120AD the Sixth Victrix legion replaced
the Ninth Hispana legion. Modestus, the man who
dedicated the altar, was a centurion in the Sixth
Legion. He was probably in command of a
detachment of legionaries who had come to Slack
to carry out necessary building work.
The myth of a Roman Altar at Castleshaw raises its
head again in 1871 in ’Saddleworth Sketches’ by
Joseph Bradbury. In the section entitled ‘Roman
Remains’ on page 141, Bradbury repeats the statement made by Butterworth. As sources of information, books written in the 18th and 19th century do provide a certain amount of useful facts, but in the light of modern knowledge and research, and bearing in mind the sources of information the authors had available to them, we must exercise great care when quoting from them.
Ken Booth