XXVI. Some Observations on the Roman Station Cataractonium, with an account of Antiquities in the neighbourhood of Piersbridge and Gainford. By John Cade, Esq. in a Letter to Richard Gough, Dir. A.S.

Extract

Upon a survey of the great military Roman ways and stations in this neighbourhood, I could not˜help noticing the many conjectures concerning the etymon, site, and celebrity of the ancient city Cataractonium Cateracton or Cateracta, for by such severai variations we find it mentioned by Ptolemy, the Itinerary ascribed to Antoninus, Bede, Camden, Burton, and other authors. Our great antiquary supposes it might derive its name from the Cataract in the Swale at Richmond, four miles higher up the river, and an anonymous author under the signature of Lafenbyensis published some years since in the Gentleman's Magazine deduces it from Caractacus, son of Cunobiline, who, he contends, might have been born at this place, or have made it his residence when he put himself under the protection of Cartismandua, queen of the Brigantes.