HE river Tees, in its long and winding course through the valley which bears its name, forms the boundary between the counties of York and Durham. After enriching some of the most beautiful and romantic landscape scenery in the north of England, and presenting an aspect the most diversified-now falling, as we leave its source, over successive rocky precipices; now rippling over its broad pebbly bed; anon gliding smooth, deep, and glassy among rich verdant pastures in the bottom of the dell; then tearing away in a less pent up, but more rugged channel-it at length swells into a considerable and powerful torrent; and, after washing the base of the B rocks crowned by the mouldering remains of Barnard's castle, dashes on, "O'er solid sheets of marble grey," and canopied with ancient woods, to form the most attractive feature in the far-famed scenes of Rokeby; then to contribute to the charms of Wycliffe and Winston; and so along a short space, by easy courses, until the northern bank slopes gently away, (the Yorkshire side still being precipitous) and forms a low sheltered situation, of which the early inhabitants of this country did not neglect to avail themselves. At what precise period, however, such a settlement took place, it is of course impossible to ascertain. I am not aware that any vestiges of works have been discovered, in or near the village of Gainford, which might induce us to suppose that its site was occupied by the Romans; though that people had a considerable station at Piercebridge, where the Watling-street enters the limits of the parish, and runs through the eastern portion of it, northward, for several miles. Mr. Cade, in a paper which he wrote of the early history of the village and neighbourhood, which I have not had an opportunity of perusing, narrates, I am told, some particulars; though, if we may judge from his other productions, he more probably advances some theories, respecting its origin and subsequent events, for which authority may be wanting. It is perhaps the most probable supposition that the Saxons were the first inhabitants of Gainford. At all events its present name, originally written Geganford,* was bestowed by that people from the circumstance of a ford crossing the Tees there. In dry weather the remains of this road- —a narrow track composed of large rough stones ridged up towards the centre-are distinctly visible, nearly opposite the Hall, and stretching obliquely towards an ancient paved road of considerable elevation, which may be easily traced southwards, towards Forcett. I have not had an opportunity of tracing its course accurately; but it is more than probable that it is a British road connected with the immense entrenched lines of that era thrown up near or on the line of the Scot's dyke,† about three miles south of Gainford, in the parishes of Stanwick and Forcett; and a part of the great line of northern communication prior to the formation of the great Roman road. *Gegan, to go. It has also been written Geagenforda, Gegainford, Geineforde, Geneford, Gineford, Gayntford, Gaynesford, Gayneford, Gaineforde, Geynford, Gainesford, Genford, Gainforthe, Geinford, Gaynforde, Gaynford, and Gainford. This immense work, supposed by Gale to have been thrown up as a boundary line between the Picts and Scots, was traced by that learned antiquary from Scotland to Hudswell moor, near Richmond, though he justly supposed it might extend much further. It consists of a vallum and single fosse; and in many parts of its course remains in wonderful preservation. It would be well if it could be more minutely traced and described. |