222 THE MAIDEN WAY,
broad, which is now in ruins. The sides of the adjacent hills are torn and deeply furrowed by the heavy torrents that fall frequently from the high grounds above.
It enters the Hill bog near the gate, and passes a small mound of stones about half way down the edge of the hill, and a large mound of stones near the bottom of the field, as if the stones of the Maiden Way had been all gathered in this field and carted down to the bottom of the hill.
(900 yards.) At 3080 yards it approaches the ground-works of the Crew Tower or Mile Castle. These are 70 yards broad from north to south, and 40 yards from east to west. On the north side are the remains of a strong tower, standing as sturdy as a border trooper; it measures 8 yards long and 5½ yards broad internally. The remaining walls are 10 feet high above the rubbish in the inside, about 5½ feet thick, and have been constructed with cement apparently ancient. At the height of about 7 feet the wall is reduced to 4½ feet in thickness, leaving a projection as if to support the joists of the floor above. There is a port-hole on the south and west sides, narrowing to a circular opening, about 4 inches in diameter, in the centre of the wall, and splaying on each side. In the interior of the tower there is an old knocking trough.[1] The entrance has been on the north side, and the tower has had a corresponding door on the south side. The west side of the north door is nearly perfect. This door has been 3 feet wide. From the appearance of the stones used in the construction of this tower, it has probably been a Border Keep, which may have been erected on a Roman site. It is likewise celebrated for its associations with local history, being usually considered as the birth-place of Hobbie Noble, one of the most noted free-booters. At a little distance northwards from this tower is another building, now partly in ruins, which has proliably been an ancient fortress. The cement with which this fort has been erected contains charcoal and pieces of burnt clay, and several of the stones resemble those used in Roman masonry.
About 400 yards to the north-east of the Crew is another
- ↑ This term is used in the North to designate a stone mortar, called also a creeing-trough, used formerly for creeing or taking off the husks of barley or wheat, previously to boiling them for broth or frumenty. The operation was performed by aid of a wooden pestle or a round ball of stone.
