Huddersfield Chronicle (21/Oct/1865) - Huddersfield Archaeological and Topographical Association

The following is a transcription of a historic newspaper article and may contain occasional errors. If the article was published prior to 1 June 1957, then the text is likely in the Public Domain.

Huddersfield Archaeological and Topographical Association.

We intimated to our readers in our last edition that this Association intended making excavations at Slack this week, and we have now the pleasure to state that the work has been commenced in right earnest. On Monday last four men were employed, under the directions of the honorary secretary, the Rev. George Lloyd, and in the course of the day they were rewarded by striking upon a wall, which turned out to be the foundation of a Roman building. On clearing away the earth, a large number of broken Roman tiles were found amongst the debris, and are still turned up in large quantities wherever the spade and mattock are employed. As the course of the wall was pursued it was found to be the foundation of a building extending from east to west 60 feet, and from north to south 58 feet. The north and south walls measure 3½ feet in thickness, and the others 2 feet, and clear over all 2½ feet. Party walls have been also discovered ; and the room so worked out measures 18½ ft. by 8½ ft. Other excavations will be made in the course of the ensuing week, and we shall report progress in future numbers of the Chronicle. The discoveries now made go far to settle that long-disputed antiquarian question — namely, the site of Cambodunum. It is now seen that Slack was an important Roman station on the high road from Eburacum (York) to Mancunium (Manchester) ; and other excavations, it is confidently expected, will prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Slack alone has the honour of claiming Cambodunum for itself. The place will be visited by hundreds and thousands of people from all parts of England ; and as we know that many of our working people are filled with the laudable curiosity to see what has been done, we confidently hope that they will not injure or displace any portion of the building, nor stand by and see any one do so, unauthorised. We are requested by the Rev. Mr. Lloyd to say, that, in the course of time, a suitable place will be taken for a museum of antiquities, where the public will have free admission to examine all the articles found in this locality.