From the carpark, cross both stiles
before looking for cache!
Catterick has a long history. In 1992 a Bronze Age Sword (2500 -
2000 B.C.) was found near Catterick Bridge buried in the river
gravel a little distance from the river. The present town has
probably been occupied since Saxon times, and in the sixth century
it was the site of the Battle of Catteaeth, which was probably
between Celts from Scotland and recently arrived Saxons. The Celts
fared worst.
Cataractonium was a significant Roman town with two forts, one
each side of the river and settlements spreading along Dere Street.
An altar stone found here is dedicated to an unnamed god referred
to simply as the 'god who invented roads and pathways'
The original fort at Cataractonium was built beside Dere Street,
the route for the legions striking north in the decades after their
invasion of England in AD 43. A mansio, a staging post or inn used
by travellers on official government business, was established and
by the second century had grown very grand with painted plaster
(two panels of these are in the Yorkshire Museum in York). The new
town grew from this military centre, incorporating shops, trades
such as leather-working and smithing, elaborate baths, rebuilt
several times, and attracted an influx of foreigners who left
behind their continental style brooches. Wood writing slabs found
at Hadrian's Wall show details of supply requirements sent to
Caractonium. The inhabitants were as security-conscious as any
modern town-dwellers, judging by the number of tumbler and lever
locks they used. There were plenty of beautiful objects to lose,
including a statuette of the smith god Vulcan and an exquisitely
enamelled flask, which must once have contained costly perfume but
seems to have ended up as a glue-pot.
In 1625 a cauldron half full of Roman coins was found. It was
kept at Brough Hall, a house occupied by a Royalist family in the
Civil War but seized by Cromwell's forces, cauldron and all.
Eventually the pot was returned - but without its contents.
There is an information board at the entrance to the carpark N54
23.305 W001 39.168 which shows the relationship of the Roman camp
to the A1M. I have situated the cache as close to the line of Dere
Street as I could work out. Your imagination will have to transport
you back in time for you to be able to ‘see’ the bridge and town!!
Watch out for the nettles in summer. Long
trousers recomended!