bones and other refuse, indicating their connection with the earliest races whose weapons are known to us.[1]
On leaving the Little Beacon Tower, the Maiden Way continues in the same straight line forwards to the north-west across the moor, the footpath from Gilsland passing along it, and at the distance of about 150 yards it crosses a road to the peat moss, which is thickly covered with stones at the point of crossing, but on no other part of it. About 90 yards farther onwards it crosses the ditch which divides the Gilalees Beacon pasture from the undivided common called "the Side Fell." This ditch appears to have been crossed by a small arch, or a large conduit, as there is a great number of large stones, both flagstones and ashlers, and on the south side there is an appearance of a wall. On the north side of this ditch the way is very distinctly marked for about fifty yards, being raised about two feet, and being about twelve feet wide. The edging stones seem to have been removed. On clearing away the rubbish in several places, I could find no edging stones, except in one place on the east side, where I found three large stones like edging stones, one of them being about three feet long.
(390 yards.) At 7480 yards it passes two rows of stones lying on the west side of the Way, one row adjoining the end of the other. Each is six feet long and two feet broad. They appear as if they might have been the graves of two common soldiers, and the rows of stones laid to show the spot where the corpse was deposited. To some readers these minute observations may appear undeserving of notice. In tracing the vestiges of ancient occupation, however, the smallest facts may supply evidence, and claim attention.
The ground about this place is very soft, mossy, and broken, and the large stones of the Maiden Way answer very well for stepping-stones for foot-passengers. The most western source of the river King is about this place.
(440 yards.) At 7920 yards it arrives at the corner of the stone wall which divides the Side Fell from the Highhouse farm. From this point, which is the summit of the ridge, it begins to descend into the vale of Bewcastle. About eighty yards on the east side of the corner of the stone wall
- ↑ See the account of Pen Pits, Ancient Wilts, vol. i. p 35. Pits supposed to have been British habitations occur in Berkshire, Archæologia, vol. vii. p. 236. See also Young's Hist. of Whitby, vol. ii. p. 666.
