The Roman Map of Britain Varis or Vario St Asaph, or Veratino? Ruthin
Veratino (R&C 87) next
Varis (AI 4827 Iter xi) not necessarily the same
Veratino cannot be connected by
road to Lutudaron (R&C
88), it would have to be between Carsington and Buxton. If there is any
credibility to my theory of the Cosmographer's methodology, then Veratino
must be connected by road to the previous entry Deva
Chester (R&C 86). Varis,
traditionally St. Asaph (SJ0374),
bears a resemblance to Veratino. The form of Veratino can be
explained as Varis or Vario read as Várîo and expanded to
Veratino.
Bod Fari (SJ0971), also on the Clwyd
Afon Clywedog, appears to preserve the name. It is Potvary on Blaeu's Map of Denbigh and
Flint 1645. Varis may represent
the old name of the Clwyd. identical to Farrar Varar
aestuarium.
Other than St. Asaph, the notable presences are Ffridd (sj2854),
Ruthin (sj1058), and Prestatyn (sj0682).
Ruthin is both on the Clwyd and connected by road to Chester, so there remains
the possibility that the Cosmography's entry represents a different site
on the Clwyd at Ruthin sharing the river name element *uar- 'water'. Veratino's
form may represent a corrupted Varantia, Verentia, Varenna
or other similar European form. See PNRB p.486.
Veratino is in no way connected with Vernemeto Willoughby-on-the-Wolds.
Burnham, B.C. 'Roman road, Chester to
Ruthin' Britannia xxiv (1993)
271, 273
E. Waddelove: 'A Roman Fort at St Asaph and
the Location of Varis' Britannia XXXV
(2004) 248-252