[Illustration: Slab to Hadrian, Milking-gap]
IMP[ERATORIS] CAES[ARIS] TRAIAN[I]. HADRIANI AVG[VSTI] LEG[IO] SECVNDA AVG[VSTA] AVLO PLATORIO NEPOTE LEG[ATO] PR[O]PR[ÆTORE.]
Of the Emperor Cæsar Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus, The second legion, styled the August, Aulus Platorius Nepos, being legate and proprætor.
Of all the inscriptions discovered in Britain, Hodgson pronounces this to be of the greatest historical importance, inasmuch as it leads to the true reading of several fragments of similar inscriptions throwing[Sidenote: MILKING-GAP INSCRIPTION.] light upon the authorship of the Wall. One of these was known to Horsley, and seems to have puzzled that great antiquary. It and other fragments which have since been found in different mile-castles, tend to produce the conviction, that the mile-castles, (which are on the line of the Wall, ascribed to Severus,) were built by Hadrian. The simplicity of the inscription will strike the classical reader, who will not fail also to observe the peculiarity of the name of the emperor being in the genitive case.
Although the station of _Vindolana_ lies considerably to the south of the lines of the Barrier, it is ranked by the Notitia among the stations _per lineam valli_, and as such, must be examined by us in our mural peregrination. Leaving Milking-gap with this view, and crossing the low grounds to the south of the Wall, the Vallum is observed, contrary to its usual tendency, making two rapid curves, something in the form of the letter S, to avoid, apparently, the swellings of the contiguous marsh. At High-shields, a cottage on the little ridge south of the turnpike-road, the station comes into view. It stands upon a partially detached eminence, surrounded, though not so closely as to be commanded, by hills of superior elevation. On all sides, except the western, it is naturally defended, whilst the summits of the surrounding heights afford it a degree of shelter which would be peculiarly grateful to the natives of southern Europe. The Chineley-burn flows past it, and the situation is altogether one of peculiar beauty. In modern times, the place has been variously designated Little Chesters, the Bowers, and Chesterholm.
VINDOLANA.—As this station is detached from the Wall, and lies upon the line of the ancient road which ran from CILURNUM to MAGNA, it is not improbable that it was one of Agricola’s forts. The road which connected it with the Wall may yet be distinctly traced between High Shields and the farm-house of Chesterholm.