ln the early era under notice this part of the country was inhabited by the Setantii or Segantii, ie. dwellers in "the country of the waters" - which was subsequently a portion of the British province of the Brigantes. Under the Romans the tract betwixt the Mersey and the Ribble was included in the province of Maxima Caesariensis. The road from Overborough, near Kendal, to Slack, near Huddersfield, passed through Manchester, and intersected the township of Oldham from Lime, Hollinwood, to Wellihole, Greenacres. At the eastern extremity of the township of Failsworth, immediately adjacent and partly within that of Oldham, "the Roman road" reaches the edge of a morass, and immediately presents a considerable ridge to the eye, bearing the name of Street. Gradually gaining a loftier crest and more magnificent aspect, the road is carried for no less than four hundred yards across a hollow of the moss. The border of the road is well known to the farmer, by the great difliculty of harrowing the ground, and the extreme scantiness of the corn upon it. Approaching "the common" of Hollinwood, the road leaves the lane, and re-enters the fields, sweeping across Wolfenden's meadow, where it is frequently found ascending the little elevation of Barnfield, where it is just visible, and appearing in a plain green ridge along the rushy level of Moss-grave (Moss-grove), and going through Mr. Kershaw's kitchen, croft, and fold at Copster-hill, and over Mr. Bent's, Gate-field at the same place, it proceeds to Glodwick, where it has been found by the plough in one part, and was visible to the eye for a great number of yards together in another. A mound, or tumulus, was remaining near Glodwick some years ago, on the line of the Roman way, but previous to 1817 it had been removed by Mr. Heap, the owner of the land, when an earthen vessel and some ancient coins were discovered. The late Mr. John Whitehead, a native of Glodwick, who published several remarks on the village and the course of the Roman road, in Prescot's Manchester

8