Major Romano-British Settlement

Adel, West Yorkshire

NGRef: SE2741
OSMap: LR104
Type: Major Settlement
Roads
WNW (11) to VERBEIA (Ilkley, West Yorkshire)
E (9) to Newton Kyme (North Yorkshire)
E (11) to CALCARIA (Tadcaster, North Yorkshire)

There are five inscribed stones recorded at Adel in the R.I.B.; two altarstones each dedicated to different goddesses, one found in 1879 at Church Lane, Chapel Allerton, 2½ miles north of Leeds and now kept in the Leeds Museum, the other found in 1816 at the Adel site and now in the coach-house of Adel Church together with a building stone inscribed with a phallus found in the same year, also parts of two tombstones, both of which were discovered in 1702 just south of the Roman town at Adel Mill and both now lost. All of these texts are shown and translated on this page.

Altarstones from Adel and the Neighbourhood
MΛTRIBVS ... ... M DEΛE BRIGΛN D CINGETISSA P
"To the mother [goddesses ... a vow absolved freely and] deservedly." "To the goddess Brigantia a dedication placed by Cingetissa."
(RIB 629; altar; text restored) (RIB 630; sandstone altar)

Building Stone Found on the East Side of the Roman Town
PRIMINVS MINTLA
"Priminus the Prick!¹"
(RIB 631; building-stone with inscribed phallus)
  1. The word mentula is coarse Latin slang for the male sexual organ. It is quite possible that this carving was intended to act as a charm against venereal disease. Maybe poor old Priminus was beginning to feel itchy down below.

Fragmentary Tombstones from Adel Mill
D M S CADIEDI NIAE FORTVNATAE PIA V A X... ...IVGI PIENTISS H S E
"To the holy shades of the departed Cadiedinia Fortunata Pia, who lived for [...] years [...]" "[...] to a most dutiful spouse who lies here."
(RIB 632; bottom-left corner of tombstone; restored) (RIB 633; bottom of tombstone)
See: The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965).
All translations, including any inherent mistakes, are my own.

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