CONTENTS. THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF THORNE. SECTION I. THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY PREVIOUS TO IT is the observation of a very judicious and learned antiquary, that "If the origin of the more learned nations, Greeks and Romans, be uncertain, much more is that of the Western parts; and if national antiquities be obscure, parochial, for sure, are more uncertain." However, to commence a general account as early as can be asserted with safety: The original inhabitants of the province in which the town of Thorne is at present situated, were the Brigantines, the most numerous and powerful of all the British tribes that possessed the island before the Roman conquest. Traces of their history are antecedent to the Christian era; and when Julius Cæsar invaded this island, forty-five years before the birth of Christ, he describes them as occupying the northern districts, meaning the whole of the extensive region now divided into the counties of Durham, York, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lancashire: their metropolis was Isurium Brigantium, which is now only an inconsiderable village, called Aldburgh, about half a mile distant from Boroughbridge. The Roman writers relate, that the Brigantines were the most numerous and powerful of the native tribes of Britain, inured to great hardships, and of a brave and warlike character. They resisted the Roman arms for a considerable period, and were only overpowered by the invincible conquerors of the then civilized world. The Brigantines, situated towards the sea coast, made a vigorous and protracted resistance against their invaders, defending their towns with the most desperate valour; and it was not until after many bloody conflicts that they submitted to the power of the Roman arms. The proprætor Petilius Cerealis received their submission in the reign of Vespasian, A. D. 70. From that period, the Romans fixed their principal station at Eboracum, or York, from which central point their cohorts, stationed in every direction, retained the surrounding country in obedience. It does not appear that the Romans have left, in the district to which this history is intended more particularly to relate, any works that might prove their having had a settlement or camp within its confines. The nearest of their works appears to have been a vicinal way, that passed through the old town of Pontefract, in a southerly direction, to Darrington, Wentbridge, Smeaton, Campsall, and Hatfield. The common road of the Romans out of the south into the north, was from Lindum (Lincoln), to Segelocum (Littleborough, upon the Trent), and from thence to Danum (Doncaster), where they kept a standing garrison of Crispinian horse. On the east and north east of their road, between the two last named towns, lay the borders of a great forest, the retreat of numerous hordes of the unsubjected Britains, who were continually making sallies out of their secluded holds, to intercept the provisions, and take and destroy the carriages, and kill the passengers and allies of the invaders of their country. These proceedings at length so enraged the Romans, that they resolved to destroy this almost impenetrable fastness of the natives. That they might do this more effectually, they marched with a great army, and encamped upon a heath or moor not far from Finningly; the remains of their camp are still visible between that place and Austerfield," where it is probable," says A. de la Pryme," that a great battle ensued, for hard by is a little town called Osterfield.* Now, as the latter part of the word is never used to be added to any other, but where there hath been a battle; so the former seems to tell us, what Ro * Dr. Miller, in his History of Doncaster, remarks, "It is said that a battle was fought here between the Romans and Britons, and that the village takes its name from it; but I have examined Tacitus, Camden, and Speed, and can find no account of such a battle. Perhaps the village takes its name from the Saxon Oiester (easterly) and Feldt (a field).” man general it was who fought it, to wit, Ostorius, whom all the Roman historians assure us was in those parts. But who gained the victory is not so easily to be judged of, though no doubt it was the valiant Romans, who, beside the multitudes of Britains that they slew, drove the rest back into the great forest and wood, that covered all this low country. Whereupon the Romans, that they might destroy it and the enemy the easier, took opportunity of a strong south west wind, and set great fires therein, which taking hold of the fir trees, burnt like pitch, and consumed infinite numbers of them; then, when the fire had done what mischief and execution it could, the Romans brought their army nearer, and, with whole legions of captive Britains, choped and cut down most of the trees that were yet left standing, leaving only here and there some great ones untouched, as monuments of their fury, and unneedful of their labour, which being destitute of the support of the underwood, and of their neighbouring trees, were easily overthrown by the strong winds." After the Romans had finally abandoned Britain, little is recorded in history of the state of affairs in this district, until the year 633, during the Saxon Heptarchy, when Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, joined with Cadwallon, or Ceadwalla, the British king of Wales, to destroy the Christians and Saxons. The king of Wales, according to the historian, was pagano sevior, more cruel than a pagan, thongh a nominal Christian; and yet more atrocious than |
