Castleshaw Roman Camp (Rigodunum)

The original fort dates to the Flavian period, and was probably erected during the governship of Agricola (AD77 to AD83), when new Roman roads were being constructed in the Pennines as an aid to Roman expansion in the North. The larger fort became a smaller fortlet in the Trajanic era. The Fort would have been an important stronghold for Romans travelling through the Pennines between Mancunium (Manchester), Eboracum (York) and Melandra (Glossop), and the remains of Roman roads still traverse the bleak moors.

Ghostly Sighting
During the 1960s three friends were travelling in van through the Castleshaw area, when they spotted a mounted Roman soldier riding towards them on the road. At first they thought the figure was someone in fancy dress, but their curiosity gave way to terror as the mounted figure continued towards them and passed right through their vehicle.

I have not come across any other reports of phantom Roman soldier in the Castleshaw area, but there is a tradition of Roman spectres not far away at Bleaklow Head on the Pennine way, and also a local tradition of a missing Roman Patrol.

It would be interesting to hear from anybody who has a similar story to tell about the area.