Olicana

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Military of ancient Rome (portal)
800 BC – AD 476

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Olicana is generally recognised as the Roman fort on the south bank of the River Wharfe, situated at the centre of where Ilkley, a Victorian spa town in West Yorkshire, England now stands. The 1086 Domesday Book gives Ilecliue also variants Illecliue, Illiclei and Illicleia for Ilkley. Ptolemy mentions Olikana in his Geographia (c. 150).

Roman gravestone found in Ilkley
Roman gravestone found in Ilkley

A wall, once part of the fort, can still be seen near the town's old Manor House Art Gallery & Museum. Around the area are four signs showing the edges of the walls of the fort.

Rivet and Smith give Olenacum as the proper form of the name and controversially suggest it was located at Elslack (Eleslac in Domesday Book).

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