1861
Discovery of Roman milestone reported
In 1861 a local historian Samuel Johnson published his book History of Castleford: cuttings from the Castleford Magazine. He had been energetically collecting reports of finds from Castleford’s Roman past. Among the many sightings he reported were:
- The paving of the Roman ford across the river was seen when the water level was low. The ford was about 12 feet wide and paved with stones.
- A stone pavement, possibly the Roman road, was found 11 feet down during drain-laying in the road outside the Mexborough Arms.
- A quern (for grinding corn) was found at the west end of Carlton Street.
- A milestone was found at Half Acres. It was dedicated to the Emperor Florian in AD 276. This is now in the Yorkshire Museum.
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