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 IIOMAN ANTK^UITIES 
 
 II,I,HSTRATE1) IIY REMAINS RECENTLY DISCOVERED ON THE SITE OF 
 
 THE NATIONAL SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY'S PREMISES, 
 
 MANSION HOUSE, LONDON. 
 
 > 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN eV^PRICE, F.8.A., 
 
 irilN'UliAKY SK(}URTAHY Ol' fUE LONDON AND HIIDDLESEX AUCH.ICOr.OfllCA 1, SOOTETY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTKI) liV NICHOLS AND SONS, ■>:,. PARr.LVMENT STREET. 
 
 1873.
 
 T 
 
 n 
 
 / '- /
 
 ROMAN ANTIQUITIES RECENTLY DISCOVERED 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SITE OF THE NATIONAL SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY'S PREMISES. 
 
 Of the numerous excavations wliicli commercial enterprise has of late 
 years rendered necessary in the City of London few have possessed greater 
 antiquarian attractions than the works which, since the autumn of last year, 
 have been steadily progressing at the north-western corner of Walbrook. It 
 Avas well known that to erect a building of the magnitude required by the 
 National Safe Deposit Company a great depth for the foundation would have 
 to be attained, and to reach the solid clay a large amount of ancient debris 
 must be cleared, that a portion of the course once pursued by the stream 
 of "Walbrook would be visible, and, on completion of the works, every trace 
 of the existence of this particular section of the old watercourse would for 
 ever be removed. A representation of this to the architect to the Company 
 secured every opportunity for investigation. The directors granted imme- 
 diate access, and, assisted by the ever-ready co-operation of Mr. Harry 
 S. Greaves, clerk of the works, I am enabled to prepare the following 
 account of observations made, accompanied by illustrative descriptions of 
 many of the antiquities discovered. In this way it has become possible to 
 acquu-e, from unquestionable data, additional facts of interest connected with 
 the occupation of London in Roman times. It is only to be regretted that 
 such facilities have not oftener been afforded, in times when the site of our 
 City was comparatively new to antiquarian research, and when the materials 
 for the elucidation of its early history were far more plentiful than now. The 
 greater portion of the information from which antiquarian writers have been 
 compelled to collect their materials has too often been of a most uncertain 
 kind ; and has in many cases depended on statements of the workmen employed. 
 
 a
 
 2 Moman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Antiquities have (as they still are) been offered to the collector as coming 
 from certain localities with which they have had no connection whatever. 
 If not the actual fabrications of the forger they have ofttimes come from 
 collections made abroad, have found their way to the dealers in such articles, 
 and thence to the cabinets of the unwary. It is rarely the case now that 
 antiquities can be collected from any London site with that certainty as to 
 locality which is after all the chief feature in the interest that appertains to their 
 discovery. The result is that statements are sometimes made upon dubious 
 authority, and conclusions arrived at of at least a questionable land. 
 
 In order that the discoveries now made may be alike intelligible to the 
 casual reader as well as of utility to those whose pursuits may lead them more 
 deeply into the regions of archaeology, it becomes necessary to review briefly some 
 of the opinions expressed by former writers as well as the. discoveries which they 
 have described and illustrated in connection with Homau London, and in doing 
 this it is proposed, while recapitulating what is kno^^ni of the topograpliy of the 
 district immediately under consideration, to ascertain as we proceed how far 
 labours already vindertaken are confirmed and illustrated by the present inves- 
 tigations. The early history of Loudon will be first noticed, next the excavations 
 themselves, and lastly a description given of the numerous antiquities which have 
 been exhumed. 
 
 As with all places whose foundations belong to a period anterior to written 
 testimony, the early history of our city is involved in obscurity. It commences 
 in the regions of myth and fable, with traditions * which found credence in the 
 twelfth century and on through a period late in mediaeval history, but arc never- 
 theless now commonly considered as speculations alike worthless and untrue. Of 
 anything like aboriginal barbarians such as in the present day it is customary to 
 assign to "prehistoric" times no remains exist. The megalith builders have left 
 no evidence of their works, no trace whatever of " stone," " bronze," or "iron," 
 which can be appropriated to pre-Roman times, not a single flint implement has 
 (to our knowledge;) ever been found within the City, nor any article of pottery, 
 which in a clay district like London it may be presumed would have been plentiful, 
 no early British or Gaulish coins t prior to the lloman era, nor any of the relics 
 
 • See References to the Traditions of Geojfrei/ of Monmouth presci-vod in llio Ijilur Allms ; ;uul in (lio 
 Jlecorilatorium Civitulis SpectUum. 
 
 •f Mr. Akcrman writes : " If the Britons hail a coinage of llioir own previously to the anivjil of Cajsar 
 the fact is not proved by existing examples." — Ancient Coins, p. 198. 
 
 A flint iin|i1i;nii;nt was foinnl in Gray's Inn T.anc wliidi gave rise to a rdinaniic story whicli may
 
 National Safe Deposit Conqiaiifs jiremises. 3 
 
 ■which ill rural districts bear cvitlcnce of a large aboriginal population, and sucli 
 as would prove any extensive occupation by the early British tribes of that vast 
 extent of land which (at least eighteen feet beneath the present level) was 
 bovindcd by dense vegetation on the north and was intersected by the well- 
 known stream of Walbrook, Avhich, with its tributary rivulets, formed a devious 
 course from bcvond Moorfields to the River Thames. It has, however, still been 
 
 * ■' ^ 
 
 sought by some to bestow upon Loudon a British or Gaulish origin— to view 
 it as a position of magnitude and importance long prior to the ai-rival of Julius 
 Caesar. The evidence for this is, to say the least, most incomplete. The 
 arguments in favour of it arc such as will equally apply to the subsequent 
 colonisation of the spot by Bomauised Britons. Its position on the River 
 Thames, its consequent direct communication with the continent, combined 
 with the trade and commerce which is known to have subsisted between 
 Gaul and Britain prior to the coming of Julius, as well as the position which, 
 according to Tacitus, was assumed by London on the occasion of the revolt of the 
 lecni and Trinobantes in the days of Suetonius Paulinus, a.d. 61, arc all as 
 applicable to one period as the other. Indeed far more so, for the connection of 
 London with the Trinobantes of Csesar's day is but doubtful and uncertain, and 
 whatever the remnants of habitations that are met with they are all Roman, aiul 
 constructed on the virgin soil. At the same time it is admitted that its position 
 on a large navigable river rendered it a desii-able situation as the emporium of 
 
 be here quoted if only on account of its absurdity. John Bagford, speaking of his friend Mr. John Conycrs, 
 an apothecary, who formerly lived in Fleet Street, writes : " It was this veiy gentleman that discovered 
 the body of an elej)hant as he was digging for gravel in a field near to the sign of Sir John Oldcastle in the 
 fields not far from Battle Bridge and near to the river of Wells, Fleet Ditch, which, though now dried up, 
 wiis a considerable river in the time of the Romans. How this elephant came there is the question. I 
 know some will have it to have lain there ever since the universal deluge. For my own part I take it to 
 have been brought over with many others by the Romans in the reign of Claudius the Emperor, and 
 conjecture, for a liberty of guessing may be indulged to me as well as to others that maintain different 
 hypotheses, that it was killed in some fight by a Briton, for not far from the place where it was fdiiiul a 
 British weapon made of a flint lance like unto the head of a spear fastened into a shaft of a good length, 
 which was a weapon very common amongst the ancient Britons, was also dug up, they having not at that 
 time the use of iron or brass, as the Romans had." (Sec Leland's Collectanea, i)\). 63-1771).) This 
 implement is yet in existence and is engraved in the Archrrologia; it is, of course, but a geological 
 illustr.ition. Mr. Evans writes : " Tliough quateniary gravels extend beneath a considerable part of 
 London, no other discoveries of implements have been made in them within the town itself. In the suburbs, 
 however, several such implements have been found, and of different types." (See Stone Implements of 
 Great Britain, by J. Evans, F.R.S.) The romance, however, served to originate the sign of the public- 
 house known as the Elephant and Castle, which stood in this locality. 
 
 a 2
 
 4 Boman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 trade, a place from wliicli goods could be shipped in quantities, and a nucleus 
 around which would gather a moving population of traders in natural products and 
 manufactures. These would send on their goods from the interior, and thus 
 ensm'e shipment to the continent. It may be viewed as a village, station, 
 or market-place for such commodities, and would resemble the ports upon 
 the coast line or river side, accessible to the natives of a country connected 
 with the far-off colonies of our own times. Its subsequent grandeur, develop- 
 ment, and growth is to be referred, as we shall see, to Homan times ; for the 
 growth of all cities must depend on existing congenial circumstances as much in 
 ancient days as now. Any increase in trade necessitates the occupation of a larger 
 population, and when we consider that the Romans were masters of our land for 
 nearly 400 years, so long a period could hardly elapse without material alterations 
 taking place both in the limits and character of the first settlement of the city. 
 To bring this before our own experience we have but to compare the metropolis 
 of the reign of Queen Elizabeth with that of the present day, or further to reflect 
 upon the extension of the city and increase of its population Avithin the last 
 fifty years. Liverpool is another case in point, its commercial growth is within 
 human recollection ; and Brighton also, as a place of recreation and resort, is an 
 illustration of how rapidly a town may start into importance from but the 
 humblest of beginnings. "With all our increase we have not yet reached to the 
 extent of Piome as a city. In the reign of Valerian * it is said to have been 
 enclosed by a circumference of fifty miles, and possessed, says Lipsius,t a 
 population of 4,000,000 inhabitants. 
 
 The first mention of London bv classic writers is that alreadv referred to as 
 occurring in the Annals of Tacitus. In describing the insurrection under 
 Boadicca the author speaks of London as being celebrated for its merchants 
 and its trade, '•' coj)ia negotiatovum et commratorum maximc cclebre," and as 
 contributing with Camulodunum and Yorulamium a large proportion, viz., 
 between the three places, of 70,000 citizens and allies to its subjection. It is 
 to he presumed that these allies, the sociis of our author, were no small pro- 
 portion of the number. It is well known that many of the petty British kings 
 were at war with each other, and, consequently, many of the states were 
 friendly to the Iloman power. Cuesar himself tells us that many aml)assadors 
 came to him undertaking to provide host;iges,:j: and with offers of submission 
 to his rule. It is probable tli(>reforc that in tiiis insurrection lliere were 
 included many of the cliaracteristics of a civil war. It lias l)een usually the 
 • Vopiecus in Aureliano. 1[ Fahricci Roma, cap. 2. } Caisar, Coinrn. iv. 2. 
 
 1
 
 National Safe Deposit Coinpany's premises. 5 
 
 custom to abide by the opinion originating in another quotation from Tacitus, to 
 the efTcct that after the first advent of Ctcsar, whose stay was but of short 
 duration, and who advanced but little beyond the coast, that Britain remained 
 in a state of oblivion to the time of Claudius, nearly a hundred years later — "longa 
 oblivio Britannia), etiam in pace," writes Tacitus, and Suetonius Tranquilius 
 makes a similar statement. Neither of these writers lived during the period 
 which intervened, indeed they flourished more than fifty years after it had 
 expired. In a recent paper, to be found in the Archajologia,* the last compo- 
 sition indeed of our late friend AV. 11. Black, F.S.A., entitled "An hitherto 
 unnoticed Expedition of Augustus into Britain," he conclusively shows that there 
 is no foundation for this long period of forgetfulness, and from numerous 
 quotations derived from contemporary writers demonstrates that a constant com- 
 munication with the country was kept up, and that a gradual colonization of the 
 soil was indeed regularly going on. One of the most important of his references, 
 and which bears more particularly on our pi'escnt subject, is that to the 
 celebrated speech of Boadicca, on the occasion of the revolt. It is to be found in 
 Xiphiline, as follows : " We have been ourselves the cause of all these evils in 
 permitting them, i.e. the Romans, at the beginning to land on this island, and 
 not straightway driving them away as we did Julius Caesar, in not making the 
 very attempt to sail hither terrible, even at a distance from our shores, as avc did 
 to Augustus and Caius Caligula." 
 
 With such facts as these, which could be readily multiplied, it is easy to 
 understand how in the period extending from B.C. 54 to a.d. 43 our city should 
 become totally changed, that a flourishing place of business should spring up 
 from but a small original settlement, and that the importance and prosperity 
 recorded by Tacitus might now be looked for. Such conditions are fully borne 
 out by the subsequent submission of the Romanised Britons at the advent of 
 Claudius. We know how honours were decreed to him by the Senate, how be 
 determined to celebrate a real triumph, and selected Britain for the purpose, how 
 he went to Marseilles, thence to Gessoi'iacum, now Boulogne, landed in this 
 country upon the Kentish coast, and, with but a stay of sixteen days in Britain, 
 returned without battle or bloodshed to Rome, in less than six months from the 
 time of his departure, and there, says the historian, " triumphed with grand 
 array." This pacific submission is recorded in an inscription upon a slab 
 discovered in the fifteenth century at Rome, which commemmorates the conquest 
 
 ♦ Archaolofjia, xliv. G5. I Xiphiline, Epitome of Dio Cassiiis, lib. C2.
 
 6 Roman Antiquities recenthj discovered on the site of the 
 
 of Claudius, aud states how the British kings were subdued without disaster. 
 An excellent description of this monument appears in Mr. iloach Smith's 
 Collectanea Antiqua, vol. v. p. 93. 
 
 In the mention of Londiuium in Middlesex by Tacitus he writes that in his 
 day it did not enjoy the dignities of a colony, " cognomente quidem colonioe non 
 insigne," such as did Camulodunum in Essex, or the rights and privileges of a 
 "municipium" like Vcrulamium in Hertfordshire, both of which places are 
 referred to in connection with our city. The distinctive differences in these 
 titles are difficult to point out, and they naturally have much to do \ni\\ the 
 particular period in the history of each to which the meaning of the author may 
 be applied. But their consideration has much to do with the present subject, 
 and it will be necessary to point out as concisely as is possible the nature of the 
 colonial cities of the Empire, the laying out of which has been so carefully 
 described in the scanty writings of the agrimensors or land surveyors of the 
 time. This is the more important because, as will be presently shown, ample 
 evidence has appeared in the course of these investigations at Walbrook to 
 conclusively establish the fact, that at the time of the Roman occupation London 
 was subjected to the same marvellous system of assignment and limitation as that 
 which is known to have been practised by its imperial masters in then- colonial 
 settlements abroad. The record of one fact derived from actual observation 
 must be worth pages of theory, and, viewing the direction to which these studies 
 are now tending, it is not improbable that information here contributed may 
 ultimately serve to illustrate many points of interest connected not only with the 
 boundaries of Roman London, but Avith those of other ancient towns still 
 existing in this country.* It is now generally admitted that the texts of the 
 Agrimensura are applicable to the Italian provinces, l)ut the majority of our 
 antiquaries have doubted whether the system ever affected the colonisation of our 
 own country. In another place f the writer has endeavoured to show that no 
 reason can exist why Britain should be excluded IVom tlu^ number, the 
 umve7'80s provinciales % which are referred to in the imperial edicts, and that it 
 can only be from want of our better acquaintance with the subject in all its 
 details that necessitates the caution that exists as to receiving explanations of 
 
 • Ptolemy, who wrote about a.d. 120, mentions 56 cities as tlu'n in existence in ]3rit;iin. 
 
 + Notes on Roman Remains in London ami Middlesex, Limdon and Middlesex Archawlogical Trans- 
 actions, vol. iii. by J. E. Price, F.S.A. 
 
 X See Lacliraan's Gromalici Veteres, p. 268. A rcscrii)t of Conslanline njion a point df tin' Agri- 
 xncnsuro.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compamfs premises, 7 
 
 matters hitherto inexplicable, hut Avhicli the more they are studied the more 
 important they become, and are at the same time as simple as they arc curious. 
 
 The term colonia as originally applied would refer to most districts subject 
 to Roman rule. In the words of my esteemed friend II. C. Coote, E.S.A. 
 " Colonisation meant the foundation of a new city with an allotment thereto, as 
 and in the name of territory ; the latter to be legally subject to the municipal 
 authority of that city, and to be divided and assigned to the colonists in 
 pro])rictary grants. This Avas a colony, in other words a renewal and repro- 
 duction of the original city in a strange land, or in the words of Michelet " une 
 extension de la metropole." * Mimicipia are said to have been towns existing 
 in the conquered countries and not actually founded by the Romans, the 
 inhabitants enjoying their own institutions with a portion of the rights of 
 Roman citizens, and as time went on gradually becoming amalgamated with the 
 new comers and attaching themselves to tlieir laws and customs. Gibbon tells 
 us how they insensibly equalled the rank and splendour of the colonies, and in 
 the i*eign of Hadrian it was disputed which enjoyed the preferable condition, those 
 societies which had issued from or those which had been received into the bosom 
 of Rome.f "A city," writes Mr. Coote, "might be mmiiciplmn, forum, prce- 
 fectnra, conciliahnlnm, names at one time familiar to the Roman system and 
 expressing differences in municipal organisation, in privileges, or obligations relating 
 to Rome, but all agreeing in the one fact, that they were Roman colonies. After- 
 wards, but much later, the term colonia was applied to the city itself, as expressing 
 a municipal difference and prerogative, and civitas became the general name for 
 all colonial cities, which, however they might differ in some points, agreed in 
 the circumstance of having a territory attached to them." % " An interesting 
 disputation occurs in Aulus Gellius (xvi. 13) upon the differences between 
 colonia; and municipia. These differences even in his day were hard to catch, the 
 historical rights and obligations upon which they had been founded having 
 faded into oblivion." He says, " Sic adeo ct municipia quid et quo jure sint, 
 quantum que a colonia differant ignoramus existimamus que meliore conditiono 
 esse colonias." He adds that there was a general opinion that a so-called colonia 
 or municipium having jus colonicc was greater or more respectable than an 
 
 * See Centuriation of Roman Britain, by H. C. Cooto, F.S.A., Archwologia, vol. xlii. 
 
 I Gibbon's Roman Empire, vol. i. Milman. See L. L. Mamilia, Eoscia Peducia, Alliena, Fabia, &c. in 
 Lachman's Gromatici Veteres, page 263 ; also Anlus Gellius, xvi. xii. 
 
 J Civitates enim quanim conditiones alia; sunt colouiie dicuntur, municipia, qutedam prsefectnra. Sicnliis 
 Flacais, p. 135, Lachman.
 
 8 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 ordinaiy miiuicipiinn. The emperors granted jus colonicv to cities whicli had 
 never been colonies. It is here worthy of remark that Aulus Gcllius and Tacitus 
 were contemporary writers. 
 
 In view of the foregoing we may then speak of London as a civitas having 
 its county attached according to this Roman rule. This in other words is the 
 territory of Middlesex. A similar designation will apply to those other colonies 
 which were planted in Britain, viz. Camulodunum, Lindum, Deva, Glevum, Aquae 
 Solis, &c., at all of which places important cities remain. Londinium is thus 
 the head of the colony, becomes the chief city and capital, and we are prepared for 
 the statements of Ammianus Marcellinus, of its having received the dignified title 
 of Augusta. This author wrote in the reign of Gratian, about a.d. 380, and he 
 states that, when Lupicinus came over to repel the incursions of the Picts and Scots, 
 he sailed from near Boulogne to Richborough and proceded to London as his head- 
 quarters. And again, on referring to the advance of Theodosius on a similar 
 expedition the general is described as marching in high spirits from Augusta, 
 which the ancients used to call Londinium. Under the title of Augusta London 
 became the seat of the Romano-British Treasury.* In the Notitia Dignitatum 
 Utriusque Imperii, where, under the supreme disposition of a high ofl&cer at 
 Rome entitled the Count of tlie Sacred Largesses, two subordinate officers are 
 registered, the one an accountant-general, denominated the Rational of the Sura 
 of Britain (Britanniarum), and the other the Provost of the Treasures of Augusta 
 in Britain. This important position it has since held, and as the seat of govern- 
 ment retains its supremacy to the present day. Sometimes it has been called 
 " Colonia Augusta," which may bo easily explained; as a title of honour or dis- 
 tinction the appellation is frequently met with among the Roman settlements 
 abroad,! and therefore may be looked for here ; for wc may pause to remark 
 that it is utterly erroneous to suppose that when the last of the Roman legions 
 left the country its departure was succeeded by a complete exodus of the 
 resident population, and that the commercial and domestic growth of some four 
 
 • See Introduction to the History of the LeatherseUers^ Company, by the late W. H. Black, F.S. A. 
 
 j- For example, Nola, miirmlucta, Colonia Augusta Vespasianus Augustus Jcduxit. Iter i)opulo dolictur 
 pedibus cxx. Agcr ejus liniitibus Sullianis militi fucrat assignatus, postca intcrccssivis mcusuris colonis 
 ct familia; est adjudicatiis. It was at Nola in Campania that Augustus died a.u.c. 760, in the 7Gtli year 
 of his ago. I'ntcolis, Colonia Augusta, Angnslns dcihixit. Iter uno laloro popnlo dcbctur pcdilnis xxx. 
 Agcr ejus in jugeriljus vetcrania ct trilmnis Icgionarins est assignatus. Putcoli, the usual landing-place 
 from the East. Sec ./u/i«« i^rontm?;*, edit. 1C74, ]>. Klfl. Ancillicr instance of this dedicatory conipli- 
 mcnt to the Emperor is " Colonia Agripjiina," tlie Cologne of the i)rcscnt day.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compamfs premises. 9 
 
 hundred years became at once annihilated. On the contrary, no such collapse 
 took place ; all remained behind ; the Government of Rome was diverted from the 
 island, but its civil and domestic institutions were adopted by the people and after- 
 wards by the Saxon Governors. Those not actually recognised became gradually 
 absorbed and amalgamated with the laws and customs introduced by the new 
 comers. To work out this has become one of the most fascinating branches of 
 our science, for by comparative illustration it can be clearly shown how very 
 much there is that has descended to the present day which can be ascribed only 
 to a Roman origin. There has really been but little radical change. Our cities 
 have increased, but it has invariably been upon the same principles which 
 governed their foundation. Roman London was but a reproduction of other 
 Roman cities, as Roman Britain was, with all allowance for peculiarity in climate 
 and situation, but as other provinces of the Empire, and one only of many 
 others, which, with their great centre in Italy, made up the Imperial system. 
 
 The municipal institutions of the City of London are of themselves the 
 illustrations of its origin and antiquity, and evidence of the gradual progress of 
 that particular form of representative government which is enjoyed by all our 
 commercial towns. So thoroughly indeed does the Latin clement predominate in 
 all that pertains to the internal jurisdiction of the city, that we can hardly fail to 
 discern the true character of its foundation. A largo number of the " rights " 
 and " privileges " of the citizens can be traced to this fountain head. They 
 have withstood the test of centuries, and, surviving all kinds of change in 
 matters of rule and custom, yet exist, and, though oftimes modified in points of 
 detail, are still cherished with a jealous care by the descendants of men and 
 women who lived and died beneath their influence more than fifteen hundred 
 years ago. AThcn Britain became a Roman province its management was 
 entrusted to a superior officer known as the Praetor or Propraetor, whose position as 
 far as can be ascertained from commemorative inscriptions was that of a direct 
 ambassador or vice-general of the Emperor, a "legatus Augusti." The first of 
 these of whom mention exists was Aulus Plautius. He accompanied Claudius 
 on liis expedition into Britain, and numerous momimcnts, especially along the 
 line of the Roman wall in Xorthumberland, testify to the names of his successors, 
 and refer also to the Emperors in whose reigns they lived. It has been assumed 
 that this officer may at times have resided at London, from the circumstance 
 of various tiles having been discovered with letters upon them, such as prb.lon, 
 PPBRLON, p.BEi.LOX., p.PR.LON, &c. These have been ingeniously interpreted by 
 Mr. Thomas Wright, E.S.A. to mean '• Proprietor of Britain at Londinium;" 
 
 b 
 
 ie\
 
 10 JRoman Antiquities recently discovej'ed on the site of the 
 
 Found is Lothbuby, 1S47. 
 
 "but it is fail- to say that other readings are equally applicable, though the 
 fact of their reference to London must remain unquestioned. Charles Roach 
 Smith, F.S.A. was the first to record and illustrate the discovery of these tiles. 
 He observes that " the letters may be read at least half-a-dozen ways without any 
 very forced construction. There may be a doubt whether the bri. may refer to 
 tlie province of Britain or to the Brittones, auxiliary troops whose presence in 
 the north of Britain has been made known by inscriptions. If the former 
 reading be adopted as the more satisfactory, then the stamps may mean FrcBses 
 or l^roprcetor Frovincice Britanni Londinii ; if the latter, Frcefectus Prime 
 (coAor^is understood) Brittonum Bondinii. " In either case," adds Mr. Smith, "the 
 correctness of the proposed reading is not confirmed by comparison with other 
 recorded examples, for, as has been observed, these inscriptions constitute a new 
 and peculiar class."* The importance of these tiles is very great, and their interest 
 exceptional, from the fact of their being the only reference to London which 
 exists in the form of an inscription. Inscribed stones have always been 
 exceedingly rare among London discoveries. Recorded examples arc probably 
 tinder twenty, and the finding of these extends over a period of nearly a 
 hundred, years. It is probable that others have been found, but have been lost or 
 destroyed. Of- those of which mention exists the majority arc sepulchral in 
 their character, and were discovered among the remains of cemeteries which 
 adjoined the highways beyond the city walls. The commemorative inscriptions 
 are principally military, comprising memorials to soldiers of the second, sixth, 
 
 • The most perfect specimen of an inscribed tile is probably tliat formerly possessed by the late 
 E. B. Price, F.S.A. and now in the British Museum. It is a largo imbrex or ridge-tile, and has upon it 
 in bold letters IT. BR. LON. It was found in Wood Street. Similar ridge-tiles have been found at 
 York bearing legionary inscriptions, and had been selected for sepulchral purposes. These Ixjre upon 
 them LEG. VI. VI (Lcgio Sexta Victrix); also LEG. IX. IIISP. (Legio Nona Ilispanica); also at Chester 
 in commemoration of the twentieth legion, LEG. XX. VV. Sec also tiles found at Caerieon and at Slack 
 near Iliiddcrsfield, where a tilc-tonjb was discovered fonncd with flanged tiles 21 inches by IG, having upon 
 them CGII. IIII. BRE. Thoy arc described by J. Fairiess Barber, Arch. Instit. vol. 24. See also 
 others figured by C. Roach Smith, F.S.A. in his Excavations of liynine, p. 21, viz. CL. BR., which have 
 reference to the British IHect, viz. Classiarii Britannia, " British Classiarii, or Marines."
 
 National Safe Deposit Compam/s premises. 
 
 11 
 
 and twentieth legions ; the latter, being a division of the force which came over 
 with Claudius, Avas eventually stationed at Chester, and permanently settled 
 in Britain. The greater number of these monuments have been illustrated by 
 Mr. Smith, and arc fully described both in his Collectanea Antiqna and in 
 the Illustrations of Roman London. The annexed 
 woodcut, kindly lent by Messrs. Nichols and Sons, 
 represents one in connection with the twentieth 
 legion. It was described by my late father in the 
 Gentleman's 3Ia(jazine for August 1812. He disco- 
 vered the stone lying by the door of a cottage situ- 
 ate in a field between the Caledonian Iload and 
 Maiden Lane, where it was daily used as a step- 
 ping-stone by the inhaliitants of the cottage. It 
 was therefore evidently not in situ, and it is believed 
 to have been brought from the city at some former period with other debris for 
 building purposes. Whether this was so, or whether, as thought by himself and 
 the late A. J. Kempe, F.S.A., that it had been found in the vicinity, and served 
 to illustrate the tradition which has always attached to the spot as being the 
 situation of the groat battle between Boadicea and Suetonius Paulinus, can alone 
 be determined by future discovery and investigation. The coincidence is at least 
 curious. The locality answers to the position as sketched out by Tacitus,* 
 and a vexillation of the twentieth legion is known to have been engaged. 
 
 If from the tile inscriptions we assume the head quarters of the governor to 
 have been at Londinium we may still infer that, like all municipia or prefecttirce, 
 the city possessed an internal jurisdiction of its own, apart from the authority of 
 the superior power. Of this, as we have said, there is full evidence. The present 
 mayoralty, the aldermen, and shcriflPs may in their official capacity trace descent 
 from Roman times, and find the prototypes of their various duties in those once 
 exercised by the prefectus iirbis, the curiales, or decuriones, &c. of the pro- 
 vinces attached to ancient Rome. The Roman prefect was a regular magistrate. 
 He was the chief guardian of the city ; he regulated its laws as to markets and 
 trades, superintended all an-angements for the protection of its inhabitants, 
 and as guardian of the peace he kept up an establishment of milites statiouarii,f 
 
 • Tacitus, Aimal. lib. xiv. 
 
 t An interesting paper upon the history of this force was read a siiort time since by H. C. Coote, 
 F.S.A. at the Society of Antiquaries of LonJon. In it the author endeavoured to show that the milites 
 stationarii as instituted by Augustus supplied the germ of the English Hundred and Titliing, those two 
 
 62
 
 12 Moman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 the precursors of our modern police. This distinguished officer too was, like our 
 own Lord Mayor, the medium through which the Emperor held communication 
 TTith the citizens of the capital. In later times his authority, like everything else, 
 became extended in its operation. Tlie term of oflBce was sometimes for several 
 years,* perhaps for life, but after the reign of Valerian a new prefect was appointed 
 every year. Cicero tells us how some 'prefecturai enjoyed the privilege of 
 electing their own magistrates.! 
 
 A prefectura merely differed from other communities in the original appoint- 
 ment of these functionaries. In early times they were selected in Rome, and 
 sent on to the provincial towns over which they were to preside, but in later days 
 this practice was the exception, and the magistracy was appointed by the commu- 
 nities themselves under certain distinctive titles by which the particular form can 
 be readily recognised. The Curiales or Dccuriones as a corporation of Senators 
 met in the " Curia " or " Common Hall " as in the present day, the Decurions 
 like our Aldermen being chosen from the civic body. A Decurion was an im- 
 portant personage, he could be elected to the office of Duumvir or chief magis- 
 trate, and Avas generally an individual of wealth and social position. His 
 functions in the municipality to which he belonged were similar to those dis- 
 charged by the Senators at Rome. While an honourable j)ost, it was not at 
 all times an enviable one. It was laborious and costly to the individual. He 
 received no salary ; if he refused to serve he was heavily fined, and the duties of 
 his office, rendered compulsory by the rigid terms of the Imperial laws, were of a 
 multifarious and often — especially in assessing the public taxes — of an unpleasant 
 and objectionable kind. That the ofiicc was one which existed in the corpora- 
 tions of Roman Britain is proved by sufficient evidence. The Rev. II. M. Scarih, 
 M.A. records the discoveiy at Bath of a funeral monument to a Decurion of 
 Glevum. The inscription reads dec . coloniae . glkv . vixiT . ax . Lxxxvi . 
 It has been described by numerous authors and was said to have l)een found 
 built into the city wall, but is now lost. Tliis venerable Alderman, who liad 
 
 territorial institutions which up to the reign of William IV. supplied the police of the eountiy. Sec 
 Proc. Soc. of Antiq. of London, vol. v. No. 6, p. 3G5. 
 
 • Our mayorahy under such a designation appears to have been first inaugmatcJ in the year 11 '.)0, 
 when Henry FitzAlwin was elected to the office. He continued mayor for twenty-four successive years. 
 In 1592 it was decreed that no man should bo Lord Mayor of London for more than one year. 'I'liis, with 
 some few exceptions, has been the rule adopted u]) to the jiresent time. 'I'lie late Mrs. I\Litliew Hall was 
 occupied for many years in collecting material for a J3iographieal History of Lord Mayors. She used to 
 say that she had discovered satisfactory evidence of the existence of the title prior to the days of Fitz; Alwin . 
 
 ■f Cicero, JJe Leg. A jr. 2, c. 31.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compan'/s j)remises. 13 
 
 attained to the ripe age of eiglity-six, had iirobably sojourned at Bath for 
 the purpose of testing the benefit of its medicinal waters. 
 
 Among discoveries made many years ago at York was a sepulchral monument 
 which had undoubted reference to a municipal ofFicer. It has been described in 
 various terms by Camden, Horsley, and Dr. Gale, and some of the facts con- 
 nected with its discovery have at times been questioned. It, however, bore an 
 inscription wliich is of considerable interest : — 
 
 M TEREC DIOGENES mniVIR COL 
 EBOK IBIDEMQ MORT CITES BITVEIX 
 CVBVS II.IEC SIBI TIVVS FECIT 
 
 " Marcus Verecundus Diogenes, Sevir of the Colonia of Eboracum, and who 
 died there, a citizen of Biturix Cubus, caused these to be made for him during 
 his lifetime." In this inscription the title Sevir is the important feature ; its 
 meaning has been discussed by various antiquarian writers ; by some it has been 
 viewed as referring to a sacred office, and by others to one of a magisterial 
 kind. Another view taken, and which is probably the most correct, is that of 
 Rciuesius, that it combined the two. Sevir Aticjustalis is the usual form as met 
 with in inscriptions. The Augustales in 3Iunicipiu formed a middle class in the 
 community; they exercised certain functions with respect to the worship of 
 Augustus with other duties of a public character. They formed a college, the 
 heads of which were styled Seviri, and who were appointed by the Decurions. They 
 were generally individuals of wealth and distinction, as the duties attendant 
 on their position often involved considerable expense. In rank they stood next 
 to the Decurions, whom they separated from the plebs, and, as the provincial 
 Equites, were analogous to the equestrian order at Borne. Erom an inscription 
 to be found in Gruter (page 49, fig. 2) we gather that both the title of Sevir and 
 that of Decurion could be enjoyed by the same individual. Such a position 
 might be readily illustrated from the constitution of our own corporation. 
 
 It has been stated that it was this monument whicli first led our historians to 
 bestow the dignified title of Colonia upon Eboracum, and that both this and the 
 municipal interpretation of the foregoing inscription required confirmation. This 
 may probably be found in the important discoveries now progressing at York. 
 "Within the last few weeks a Boman cemetery has been revealed, and among the 
 objects found is a sarcophagus, upon which is an inscription the details of which 
 are not yet determined, but which Mr. C. Wakefield, of the Yorkshire Philo- 
 sophical Society, informs me is to "a Decurion of the Colonia of Eboracum." 
 There is thus conclusive evidence that York possessed a municipality in
 
 li Boman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Roman times, and in wliicli it is probable the two individuals referred to enjoyed 
 official distinction. 
 
 Exeter also is another example of how the municipal institutions of Rome 
 outlived the Saxon administration and descended to later times. Mr. Thomas 
 Wright, P.S.A.,* remarks, on the authority of William of Malmsbury, " that down 
 to the reign of Athelstan Exeter was inlxabited by English and T\'elsh, who lived 
 on an equality of rights (a^quo jure), which they could only have done by virtue 
 of an original composition with the Saxon Conquerors." Chester may also be 
 cited as an illustration, Winchester, Lincoln, and other places. 
 
 Towards the close of the Empire and at the time of the compilation of the 
 Notitia Imperii, Britain was divided into five political divisions, each under a 
 distinct presidency, but all subject to the supreme authority of a vicarins, a 
 similar official to the j^r^s/or of earlier times. This governor was responsible to 
 head quarters in Gaul. That a similar regime extended through the Anglo- 
 Saxon period can be fully shown. In the Introduction to the History of the 
 Leathersellers' Company, by the late W. H. Black, E.S.A., the author refers 
 to the government of the metropolis in the tenth century, and quotes from an 
 appendix to the laws of Athelstan, known as the " Judicia Civitatis Londonic," 
 preserved in the ancient records at Rochester Cathedral, and which refers to the 
 " bishops and the gereves that to London borough belong." Here the gerefa or 
 reve is mentioned as the civil governor, and the record further shows how 
 analogous were his duties to those of the Roman prefect. Mr. Black further 
 quotes the well-known document commonly called the Charter of King William, 
 the first Xorman king, which is one of the two original writs of that king 
 that are preserved in the archives of the city not having any of the solemn forms 
 of a charter in style or shape, such as we find in his Latin charters to Westminster 
 and Battle Abbeys and to the church of St. Martin-lc-Grand. This document 
 translated reads : " I King William greet William the Bishop and Gosfrcght the 
 Port Reeve and all tlie Boyongh Ward with London French and English friendly." 
 The names of other contemporary bishops and portreeves of London in the 
 time of King Edward the Confessor have also been preserved : Wolfgar, with 
 Bishop Alfwar and Swerraan, with the Bishop William above-mentioned, who held 
 the see of London from 1051 to 1075. Long before these persons there was the 
 King's wic gerefa in Lundeuwic, as mentioned in the laws of two Kentish kings 
 of the seventh century, f and tlie port gerefa was required to witness mercantile 
 transactions within the port or city by the laws of King Edward the Elder.J 
 
 ♦ Celt, Uomaii nnd Maxon, p. \\{). \ Ik'twccn C75 and 085. 
 
 \ A.h. 'J01—<J2i, Lambard, 15G8, ff. IC aud -17.
 
 National Safe Deposit Company''s premises. 15 
 
 Hence it cannot be dnuhtod that tlioi-c was a succession of persons holding the office 
 of portreeve of London before the; Norman Conquest, and the constant use of refa, 
 or with the emphatic prefix gerefa, in the Anglo-Saxon laws, in the sense of chief 
 officer of a city, town, or port, as equivalent to the Latin prefectus, proves that 
 the word is not originally Teutonic, but is as much an abridgement of the lloman 
 title prefectus as is the equivalent French word prefet at the present time." 
 
 The division of London into wards is probably coeval with the foundation of 
 the city itself, and by a proper application of their boundaries we may hope to find 
 the true configuration of the early Roman settlement. When tiiese several divisions 
 first became designated as wards is uncertain, but their position, their limits, and 
 in some cases distinctive peculiarities, are sufficient evidence of remote antiquity ; 
 added to the circumstance that Rome itself was partitioned into similar regions, 
 few in number at first, but afterwards increasing in importance and extent, 
 according to the growth and development of the city. Eitzstephen, writing of 
 London in the reign of Henry III. speaks of " regionibus est distincta," and there 
 is yet earlier testimony as regards York, which is the only other city in the 
 country which ever shared with our own the honour of being the representative 
 seat of the imperial government. In Roman times it probably comprised four 
 regions or districts corresponding with the gates of the city, but in Domesday 
 Survey * we read that in the reign of King Edward the Confessor, York 
 was divided into six shires besides that of the archbishop, and contained 
 about eighteen hundred houses. It afterwards reverted to four wards, but 
 within the present century has again been partitioned into six. Such early 
 divisions perfectly accord vnih the rules laid down by Vitruvius as to the 
 distribution of the streets ; the main thoroughfares were planned in accordance 
 with the points of the compass and the direction of the winds. There would thus 
 be four parts, but sometimes other ways would start from the common centre in 
 an oblique direction, in which case there would be eight regions to the city. That 
 there could be no arbitrary observance of this plan is at once apparent, but it 
 sufficiently shows the probable origin of our ward divisions. Their number would 
 naturally be governed by the size of the city, and be at the same time materially 
 influenced by the natural configuration of the site and a variety of other circum- 
 stances ; but it may be seen that the number as appropriated to the earliest dimen- 
 sions of Romano-British towns was always small. Canterbury, for example, was for 
 many ages divided into the wards of Westgatc, Newingate, Northgate, Worthgate, 
 Bingate, and Ridingate ; but l)y a recent Act of Parliament "VVestgate, Dane 
 
 • Ellis's Introduction to Domesday, p. 509, vol. ill.
 
 IG Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 John, and Xorthgatc are its three divisions. This Act, entitled the Municipal 
 Reform Act, though virtually restoring many institutions which existed prior to the 
 Norman Conquest, naturally altered in many respects the constitution of our old 
 cities ; hut an investigation of their history prior to its operation confirms the 
 correctness of these conclusions, and but affords another illustration of the very 
 uniform plan upon vrhich the Eomans worked in all that is connected with their 
 occupation of this country, and it needs but fuller acquaintance Avith the simple 
 adaptation of parallel lines whicb guided their surveyors to bring more clearly 
 before our minds the early aspect of the majority of the ancient toAvns of Britain.* 
 Of the original position and extent of Roman London a great deal of 
 speculative opinion has been recorded. Various localities have been assigned to 
 its first settlement. While some have placed it on the south side of the rivei', 
 others locate it on the rising ground east of Walbrook, and a third view, that of 
 the late W. H. Black, F.S.A., would associate it with the space between the 
 western bank of this watercourse and the river Fleet. It is true that at 
 all these places there are abundant illustrations of Bomano-British occupation, 
 but the confusion which has arisen with respect to the varying descriptions is 
 from their serving to illustrate, not the London of the first century of its existence, 
 
 • In Bath the early city hiul four gates, whicb faccil the cardinal points. The nicdiKval walls were 
 built upon the Roman ones, and followed their course. The area inclosed, writes Mr. Scarth, was about 
 500 yards east and west by 380 yards north and south, and the direction of the city wall appears to have 
 been influenced by the nature of the Lrronnd. " The river Avm protected the city on two sides, .ind ilie 
 walls were adapted to the bend of the river; " sec Arpia- Solis, [lage 7. In this city, unrivalled for its 
 Roman remains, we observe how its municipal institutions have survived the Anglo-Saxon changes, and 
 exist to the present day. Documents connected with its history at this period are preserved in the 
 Library of Corpus Christi College, Cumljridge, and many of them are quoted by the Rev. Mr. Earlc, M.A., 
 in his admirable little work "Bath Ancient and Modern." The earliest is attributed to Osric, Nov. 6, 
 A.D. 676, and, with many others of subserpient date, refer to grants of land for religious purposes ; but 
 under the years 965 — 975 we read " This is the will (in Saxon) of the Ealdorman jElflieah," wherein, 
 among other bequests, be gives fifteen hides at Suthtowne unto Bathan — Cod. Dip. dxciii. In the iSaxon 
 Chronicle it is recorded that the Danish King Sweyne took possession of Bath in 1013, and that 
 Alderman Ethelmar and all the Western Thanes submitted to him there, and gave him hostages. We nuiy 
 also here quote from the oliservations of H. C. Cooto, F.S.A., " That when the Anglo-Saxon conquered 
 England he assigned the territory of each great city to his own Germanic officer the ealdorman : the 
 territory thus became the shire, and the pagi of the territory the hundred of that shire ;" and again, 
 "Tlie sliire was divided into hundreds, that is, the open and unwalled country received a distribution by 
 which villages or townships were arranged into circles of greater or less extent ; over cacji hundred 
 presided an caldor, unilcr wliose jircsidency the hundred liad a legal and social action." See Nerjlcctcd Fad 
 in English Iliglorij, by H. C. Cootc, F.S.A., a valuable little book, abounding in information of a novel 
 and important character.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compam/s pi'emises. 17 
 
 but rather its condition at the close of the imperial rule. Throughout all that 
 has been clone it docs not ajipear that sufficient attention has ever been paid to 
 any retrospective view of our own civic history, which after all must be of 
 supreme importance to the inquiry. This principle has at least the great 
 advantage of simplicity and as affording fewer opportunities for mere speculative 
 imagination, which has too often originated theories which should more properly 
 be deduced from actual fiicts which exist, combined with the results of personal 
 observation. The most ancient of the City wards, which are few in number, 
 should indicate the oldest portion of the city. This is practically found to be the 
 case. Around them we trace the tessellated pavements and other evidences of 
 suburban homes, also coins of the late periods in Roman history, with evidences also 
 of extra-mural sepulture in places which succeeding generations found it necessary 
 to appropriate, and thus localities religiously regarded at one period had to be 
 utilised as necessity required, and an ever-growing city was the result. Precisely 
 similar conditions must govern the arrangements of the present day. It was the 
 opinion of Dean Gale, Mr. Salmon, and others, that the first city existed on 
 the south side of the Thames. This was based vipon a misunderstood passage in 
 Ptolemv and on discoveries made at St. George's Eields,* numerous remains 
 having been found at this spot. Xear St. Thomas's Hospital in 1820 tessellated 
 pavements t and other objects were exhumed ; so also when making the approaches 
 
 * Ptolemy, in reference to the tribes who inhabited tlie South part of Britain, viz. the Demeta;, 
 Silures, Dobuni, and Atrelatii, says, " After these the most eastern, the Cantii (Kai/Tiot, among Tvhom are 
 the cities Xov^iviov, Aapovevov, Dareurum, Vovtovkm, otherwise London, Canterbury, Sandwich, and 
 Ricliborough) : — 
 
 " In his campis, quos Sancti Georgii plebs vocat, multa Romanorum niimismata, opera tessellata, 
 lateres, fossoribus, qui non procul ab hoc burgo (iSouthwark) ad austrum multos alios eruerunt." — Gale's 
 Com. Anton. Iter, p. G5. 
 
 f A tessellated pavement (not to mention other recorded instances) was discovered in July 1819 on 
 taking up the foundation of some old houses belonging to St. Thomas's Hospital in St. Thomas Street, 
 and in July 1820, about one hundred yards to the north-west, in the area or court in front of St. Saviour's 
 Grammar School, and at the depth of some seven or eight feet below the present level. Another of a 
 more elaborate design, as appeared from the guilloche border, was also found, and probably more of it 
 still remains there, as the acting governor would not pemiit a further investigation to bo made. As 
 many as forty or fifty Roman lamps, a vase, and other sepulchral deposits were found near the entrance 
 of King Street at a depth of fifteen or sixteen feet. In short, along the whole line of excavation or 
 tunnelling carried through TJackman Street and Snows Fields in December 1818 and January 1819 for 
 the new line of sewer there projected, and, subsequently for the same purpose, through Union Street in 
 December 1823, numerous Roman antiquities were discovered, and there are others turned up on almost 
 every occasion of excavation of the soil. Many have more recently been met with as far southward aa 
 
 C
 
 13 Homaii Antiqidties recently discovei'ed on the site of the 
 
 of the railwaj's at London Bridge. There were also traces of a cemetery in Dover 
 Road, and in more recent days, viz. when constructing the new street from 
 London Bridge to Blackfriars, large quantities of relics were discovered. Towards 
 tlie river were evident remains of buildings witli quantities of wooden piling, 
 indicating the wet, boggy nature of a soil which at this spot was peculiarly 
 unfavourable for anything like extensive occupation. In the course of numerous 
 visits to the works the writer observed that the objects found were not in silii but 
 had evidently been brought there, at the period may be of the Great Fire of 16G6, 
 when vast quantities of earth and rubbish were used for filling in. The depth at 
 which they were first seen was as near to the surface as sis or seven feet, and 
 from that level to a depth of upwards of 26 feet they continued to appear. The 
 coins also were of a late date. These remains therefore are not necessarily indi- 
 cations of Boman Southwark, but it is probable there was always a way for com- 
 munication across the river at no very great distance from the line of London 
 Bridge, and in connection witli the main road to Kent ; therefore a subsequent 
 extension of Boman London into Southwark can be easily understood ; but that 
 its first settlement was fixed upon the southern bank of the river is not borne out 
 bv any discoveries which have been made. 
 
 TIic situation of London Bridge has varied at different periods. It is tolerably 
 clear that the most ancient bridge of which we have any record was further 
 eastward than the present one, viz. towards Botolph Wharf at Billingsgate, 
 which was doubtless the Boman harbour or landing-place. The immense 
 quantities of piling discovered some thirty years since at this spot was evidence 
 of this as well as the existence of historic testimony to the circumstance of the 
 head of the first bridge being at St. Botolph's Wharf. The first stone bridge 
 
 Trinity Square, wlierc also was found a fine specimen of that rare coin GonUanus Africanus, now in llio 
 cabinet of Miss Adol Gwilt. Latterly Deverell Street, southward of the Dover Road, has produced 
 some fine examples, &c. See Etymology of Southwark by Ralph Lindsay, F.S.A. 1839. 
 
 In the museum of the late E. B. Price, F.S.A. were numerous antiquities from Southwark. Of some 
 lie has left sketches. Of Kent Street in the Borough ho notes in his Hiarv in th.e year IS 17, 
 " Tiiat skulls and human bones were found at the Konian level (10 I'eet deep), one urn broken, but wliieli 
 had contained burnt bones." The place of se]iullure was in the centre ol' the road, at no great distance 
 from the entrance to Napier Street, which runs into tlir Hover Itoad, on tlic otlicr side of wbicli is 
 Devrell Street, where Mr. Kcmpc's discoveries were nuulc, and which are rccnrdcd in the Arduvologia. 
 
 Maitland writes : " But if we could credit the traditionary account of the origin of the ancient wooden 
 bridge of London as delivered by liartholomew Linsted, alias Fowle, the last Prior of St. Mary Overy's 
 convent in Southwark, we arc indebted to the public spirit of a convent of religion for the changing of the 
 ferry formcrfy at this pl.ace into a wooden bridge." — See History of London, vol. i. y. 11.
 
 City Churchea. 
 
 I J^f i " it iatru.l^rj Mi^iLtljrt- zS.-^oznz. KK^tur, yj..'^>ti77tt,Mftfytirtf.Lt^fi' 4B.SamtMlWiafi,.OjrrjJi,*- Q\ SnUitJofm.m'Walhrook(sijteJ 
 
 a . /Wuttw mcAjilf M . NiaaU^.Qy/MAtA' M. ^ OUivt.Jrwfy MDut/h ChurfJi . Mj. „ I)eOr,C'w>hin-- ViMVtalLnifs ihr CrKOti. 
 
 I : Mmy I* . MtrySanm^b^tr . W/iml (tUe) 3a Saint ftla-U Thar M. , F.(bnund. fH ^amtHagrms 
 
 * . /iij» M . Am.. Vi „ AiiyuMine. IllMOiulUmalond'WallnlMUuilUnrs.r/mb^StrtA. „ Jiatolfih,JtS''Cearpe ■ 
 ft . i^ule/v* V . CkUt.Ol^^jUf^" 2a. . UaOhfi* A\ .AatfU-BoUylpK. fa.-'^intDumu. 65. „ Maiy al.Hiil- 
 
 • . /WtMa^lV'^a ■ . Mf^mji. SO . Jtvylo Asir 42 . MarOn. OuUmhH . „ llbryWix!!n*(sar)<IO' ,. Mcayara, PaCUnS 
 
 r . . . o* 1» . >l/^vi SI ADhiiUmnti'ltr 11. . Helen. Kf. . Stefiun (nilel 67. „ DimMan ,-in thrEast. 
 
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 II . AMtf/w* fr«rT6-''Cl I ttmrmr^ Jmny. SA. „ ,tamfA,C^I*1h:l \1 . .. Pt4j3fph. . AlH/f" i&. ,, CUmmf.. 71 .'ialntOlavf .Soft ."^trrfi . 
 
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 7.1 ., Mil/irtd,,Brtad,Slrit, 
 
 I'.**. -«« fifntir rn' Pufitiittit Ami tMCurw Twi/« 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 ' tMStIt A fOMt, 
 
 The City of London and its Liberties , with 
 
 COMPILED BY ALFRED WHITE
 
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 .'t.Aldg'ate 17. Cnpplegnte w" 
 
 4.BcLS9ishaw. IjB. „ with*. 
 
 5. Billingsgate IS.Oowgate. 
 
 6. Bishopsgate within 20. Farringdon w" 
 
 7. „ vnthoul 21. „ with' 
 8 Bread Street . 22. Langbou m 
 S.Bridge. 23. Lime Street. 
 
 10. Broad Street. 24. Portsoken , 
 
 11. Candlewick 25. Queenhithe 
 
 12 Castie Bi^ard 26. Tower. 
 
 13 Cheap 27.Vlntrjr. 
 14> Colemoii Street 28 . Wal b rook , 
 
 PRECINCTS. 
 
 A. Monkwell B Bridewell 
 
 LIBERTIES . 
 
 C. Temple 
 
 S^ Bartholomew the Great 8c Less 
 
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 DETAILS CONNECTED WITH THE ROMAN OCCUPATION. 
 
 A , AND JOHN E.PRICE , F.SA. 
 
 THE TOWER 
 
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 National Safe Deposit Company's premises. 1 0' 
 
 over the river, finished in 1209, was erected so much rrostward of the former ns 
 to require a new direction to he given to the highway, or perhaps ratlicr a new 
 street to he constructed constituting the modern Fish Street ITill andGracechurch 
 Street. This new line tippears to he referred to in a manuscript record of the 
 quit-rents of London Bridge under the name of the " King's lload, called Brigge 
 Street," and it is also called London Bridge Street in a record cited hy Madox 
 of the 52nd year of Henry III. 1268. The same causes led to a similar result 
 in the last rchuilding of London Bridge, and a third line still more to the west 
 has heen ohtained.* 
 
 It was the opinion of Mr. Boach Smith, who has devoted so much energy 
 and ahility to the illustration of this suhject, that old London Bridge marked 
 the centre of the first settlement, and that the top of Fish Street Hill, at its 
 junction with Graceehurch Street, Eastcheap, and Cannon Street, may have 
 been that centre. " There is greater difficulty," he writes, f " in fixing the limits, 
 and, without the assistance of remains and of any historical notices such as can 
 l)e relied upon as hearing upon the question, every attempt must be wholly specu- 
 lative. I should be inclined to place the northern wall somewhere along the 
 course of Comhill and Leadcnhall Street, the eastern in the direction of Billiter 
 Street and Mark Lane, the southern in the line of Upper and Lower Thames 
 Street, and the western on the eastern side of Walbrook." In these observations 
 Mr. Smith agrees with the late Mr. Arthur Taylor in fixing the eastern bank 
 of the watercourse as the western boundary of the City, though the assumed plan 
 laid down by the latter in his excellent papers in the Archaolof/ia circumscribes 
 still more the earlier limitation, and appropriates a much smaller space than that 
 inclosed by the boundaries above-mentioned. It is probable that the position 
 actually occupied was that still embraced by the ward divisions of the immediate 
 locality, and which are laid down upon the map which accompanies these observa~ 
 tions. It Avas almost an invariable practice with the Boman surveyors to inclose 
 a quadrilateral space, and one more or less square, as circumstances might require. 
 "With London this took the form of a parallelogram upon the rising ground east 
 of "Walbrook. If we select the wards of Tower, BiUingsgate, Bridge, Dowgate, 
 Langbourn, Candlewick, "Walbrook, and that portion of Bishopsgate Within 
 
 • Seethe observations prepared by the late Mr. Thomson in the late Sir AVilliam Tite's Catalogue of Anti- 
 quities found on the site of the Royal Exchange 1848, p. xiii. 
 
 t See Illustrations of Roman London, by C. R. Smith, F.S.A., p. 14. 
 
 C 2
 
 20 Homaii Antiquities recently/ discovered on the site of the 
 
 ■which at one corner is bounded by St. Michael's church, and may be extended 
 for oiu" purpose to the church of St. Peter on Coruhill, traditionally said to be 
 the most ancient of the City churches, we shall inclose a space of ground twice 
 as long as it is broad, and which possesses higliways, parallel streets, and roads, 
 strictly in accordance with Roman practice. It excludes the Tower, which 
 was a detached fort, and the whole of it probably external to the City at this 
 early period. It is said that in later times a portion of this fortress became 
 included within the government of the Corporation, and that the wall ran direct 
 therefrom tO" Aldgate ; but this was not always so. It may be compared in this 
 respect to a similar situation at Chester. At this place, Avhere the Castle is of 
 extreme antiquity, it was without the walls until Saxon times, when Ethelfleda, 
 daughter of King Alfred, enlarged the boundaries of the city by extending its 
 walls upon the south side and including the Castle. From the earliest times it has 
 been a matter of question as to where the Tower liberties actually cease and the 
 City jurisdiction begins.* In the plan we also exclude the "Ward of Portsoken, 
 which as implied by its name was the " Hegion " or " Soke " without the walls, 
 and a portion of the civic liberties similar to that extending on the north to 
 Norton Folgate, or on the west to Temple Bar. These liberties can be identified 
 upon the plan : they form the additions to the original boundaries of the City. 
 That commencing west of the Fleet river runs by the north bank of the Thames 
 to ^Middle Temple Lane, then north to Temple Bar, and so along Shire Lane and 
 Bell Yard into Chancery Lane by the Liberty of the Bolls, and thence to Ilolborn 
 Bars. Hence through Brook Street, Furnivall's Inn, Leather Lane, Hatton 
 Garden and West Street, to the Fleet Ditch, whence it turns Avestward to Cow 
 Cross Street, and then to Smithfield Bars. It afterwards runs between Long 
 Lane and Chartex'house Lane to Goswell Street, whence it extends across Golden 
 Lane, "Whitccross Street, and Grub Street, to Moorgate, and aloiig the north 
 side of ]\Ioorfields, dividing the City Liberty Ironi the Manor of Finsbury, a great 
 part of wliicli was formerly held by the Corporation by virtue of a lease granted 
 by the Prebendary of Haliwell and Finsbury. The lino of separation then runs 
 northward by Norton Folgate, and from thence through Spitalfields and Wcnt- 
 worth Street to Whitcchapel. It passes by tlic Little Miuories (o (iootimau's 
 
 • Coke in his Institutes writes: " 'I'lic .Tncioiit w;ill of London cxtc iiiletli tlirougli the Tower ; ;ili that part 
 on the west is within the City and parish of All Saints Harking. Therefore, Weston the princi[>a], and 
 and Sir Gervas Elweys the accessory, in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, committed in the Tower on 
 the west of the City wall, were tried in the City of London."
 
 Xat/oiial Safe Deposit Compant/s premises. 21 
 
 Fields, Avliciicc it rotiiriis westward to the !Minorics, meeting the wall at the 
 Tower Liberty.* Portsoken Ward, as defined upon the map, lies on the east 
 side of the last-erected wall of the city, and is indeed a part of the great Pomoeriimi 
 wliieh was attached to the territory of Loudinium. The Roman Poma3rium AA'as 
 not necessarily extramural,! it was a space upon either side the wall or 1)oundary 
 reaching to sucli an extent that the houses would not be joined to it on the inside 
 as they commonly are, but arranged for a space without, free from human 
 occupation. It Avas a limit consecrated by the augurs, and it was unlawful 
 either to cultivate or inhabit it. J 
 
 Tliat the original city was comprised within the space mentioned is also borne 
 out by the sepulchral deposits which have been discovered. Burial within the 
 walls was forbidden by a stringent law, and within the limits now laid down the 
 writer has Ijceu unable to trace the record of a single discovery of funereal 
 remains. This is a circumstance of the highest importance to the correctness of 
 our position, for no similar space within city limits can be selected where sixch 
 exclusion can be observed. In Cornhill, to the north of Lombard Street, there 
 was a place of sepulture — this was indicated by the observations of Richard 
 Kelsey, Esq. Surveyor to the Commissioners of Sewers; here too adjoins the 
 great gravel-pit on the site of the Royal Exchange, where such rich discoveries 
 were made some five-and-twenty years ago. Both these facts confirm our view 
 as to the northern limit. There arc next the tile-tombs found when rebuilding 
 
 * See Vestiges of Old London, by the late J. Vs. Archer. 
 
 t The Pomoerium within the City served the purpose of allowing a free circulation for the inhabitants 
 and protection for the military in time of war. This intervening space is to be observed in most of our 
 walled towns. At Canterbury it has been noticed by Professor Willis in his admirable paper upon tiic 
 Monastery of Christchurch. He writes : " In peaceful intervals this passage was apt to be encroached 
 upon by houses or gardens, and in later tinics portions of sucli lanes have been appropriated, so as tn 
 destrov the continuity of the circuit, which was rendered no longer necessary by the changes in military 
 tactics." He adds, that " in the modern plans of Canterbury this line can be distinguished along the: 
 inside of the city wall." — Archaologia Cantiana, vol. 7. 
 
 \ See Livy, c. 44 ; see also Julius Frontinus, Lachnian, 17, for the following description of the 
 Pomoerium : " De jure territorii controversia est, cum quidain jirivatorum, aut poraerium ejus urbis 
 privatis operibus inverecunde vult pervadere, aut cumarare et de locis publicis, hoc est ad ipsam urbcni 
 pertinentibus, quidain privatorum usurpare tentavcrit. Pomerium autem urliis est, (piod ante muros spatium 
 sub ccrta mensura dimissum est, sed et aliijuibus urbibus et intra muros simili modo est statutum propter 
 custodian fundamentorum, quod a privatis operibus obtincri non oportebit. Hoc locus est qui a publicn 
 niiUo jure poteris amoveri. Habet Autem conditiones duas, unam urbani soli alteram agrestis, agrestis 
 soli, quod in tutela rei urbane assignatum est ; urbani quod publicis operibus datum est aut destinatuui." 
 Aggeni Comment in Front. Rei Agraria; Auctores — 1674, page 57.
 
 22 Boriiaii Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Bisliopsgate Cliurch, in the year 1726;* tlie interments at Camomile Street 
 with others near Allhallows Barking, and the well-known f sarcophagus with 
 cinerary virns at Haydon Square, in the Minories. The actual cemeteries Avhich 
 are known to have existed at Spitalfields, Whitechapel, and West Smithtield, &c., 
 need only here be referred to. In Knight's History of London it is recorded that 
 " m'ns are said to have been fonnd under a tessellated pavement near the Church 
 of St. Dunstan in the East." Por this no authority is given, and it may be ques- 
 tioned altogether. Assuming it to be true, it would exclude a portion of the 
 Ward of Tower, which is scarcely possible when we consider the discoveries 
 illustrative of a very early period, made both in Mincing and Mark Lanes, J 
 most of which streets are situate in this ward. Mr. Taylor quotes this discovery 
 as denning his limit in this direction, but there is no evidence that the urns had 
 been used for sepulchral pm-poscs, there is no mention of burnt or human 
 bones at all, but simply the pottery associated with the pavement, a circumstance 
 frequent enough, and merely indicating that the virns were a portion of the 
 domestic accessories to the building which had been burnt or destroyed. 
 
 • See Gough's Camden, vol. ii. p. 93, edit. ISOG. 
 
 t Roach Smith's Illmtrations of Roman London, p. 45. I :un indebted to ]\lr. Smith for the loan of tlio 
 
 illustrative plate. 
 
 t Charles Baily, F.S. A. exhibited the stone base and cajnlal of a column, also part of a vessel formed 
 of Purbeck stone, most probably a mortar, found in digging the foundations for a building on the Avest side 
 of Jlincing Lane, London. At about twelve feet from the surface the workmen came to small portions of a 
 tessellated pavement, laid in a pattern surrounded with a border ibrmed of coarse red tesserae, each about 
 one inch and a quarter square; beneath this pavement, and mi.\ed with earth, were quantities of rubbish, 
 in which was mixed broken Roman pottery, tiles, and concrete, to the extent uf about two feet in depth. 
 At this level there was a floor, formed of fine gravel, lime -aid powdered tile, of a rich red colour ; this was 
 lying on the natural gravel. Between the two floors the fragments Nos. 1, 2, and 3 on Plate .x.xxv. were 
 found. 
 
 This discovery appears to be more worthy of notice, because it proves the existence of Roman remains of 
 two distinct periods. The lower floor of concrete must have belonged to a building destroyed before that 
 of which the tessellated pavement formed a part could have been erected ; and, although in many instances 
 fragments of Roman works have been discovered in connection with remains to which they could not have 
 belonged, yet such strong evidence of Roman buildings of two periods do not appear to have been before 
 noticed in London. — Joiim. Jlrit. Arch. Associntion, vol. vi. p. 412. 
 
 An ancient depository, of the nature of a granary, appears to have been fouml in Mark Lane, about 
 the year 1075, at the depth of 28 feet from the pavement, when there were dug up many quarters of 
 wheat, burnt very black, but yei sound, which were conjectured to have lain buried ever since the 
 burning of this city about 800 years before, — vide a Letter rclatin<j to the Antiquities of Loudon, by 
 J. Bagford, Feb. 1, 1711-1.") — Leland's Collectanea, vo\. i. i>. 71.
 
 
 CO 
 
 O 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 a: 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 ft 
 
 o 
 
 H
 
 National Safe Deposit Compamfs premises. 23 
 
 On the other hand it is known that the church of AUliallows Barking is of 
 remote foundation, and believed to mark the site of an ancient cemetery, but 
 there is but little evidence of this. If, as suggested by Mr. Taylor, the line 
 connecting the two wards of Tower and Billingsgate indicates the eastern limit, 
 discoveries prove that the former ward had been added at a very early period. 
 This addition may have been gradual; the parochial boundary of St. Dunstan's 
 in the East forms a central position in the ward, and, as parish boundaries* may 
 many of them be considered as of Roman date, it may indicate extension, com- 
 pleted ultimately by the eastern portion, now represented by the parish of All- 
 hallows Barking. 
 
 The antiquity of parochial limits may be classed with that of the wards, their 
 boundaries having probably been guided in remote times by the same principles 
 which were adopted by the Eomans in all their appropriations of land. In our 
 map we have laid down the positions of the numerous city churches. Some have 
 been removed, and there are others about to follow, it is therefore important that 
 every attention should be given to these sites where opportunities occur, for it is 
 impossible to say how many of these familiar buildings may really mark the sites 
 of pagan temples. Some of them may illustrate the practice of the Roman land- 
 owners of erecting temples on the confines where the possessions of three or four of 
 them met.t The entrances of such a building, we are told, w^ould sometimes 
 corresj)ond with the number of the owners on whose possessions it was erected. 
 These temples also were at times endowed with grants of land, which were appro- 
 priated to the support both of the edifice and its priests. There were legal 
 provisions for this. It is quite possible, therefore, for some of these buildings to 
 have been standing in Saxon times, and become the forerunners of our parish 
 cluu-ches, so frequently do we find the latter resting upon foundations of evident 
 Roman work. 
 
 Assuming with Mr. Roach Smith that Old London Bridge marked the centre 
 of Londinium, it is not impossible to determine the course of the road, connecting 
 this highway with the line to Norton Folgatc, which must have passed through 
 the Ward of Bishopsgate. Up to the junction of Lombard Street wdth Fcn- 
 chiu-eh Street and Gracechurch Street the data are insufiicient, but at this point 
 
 • Spelman, Concilia, fol. 1639, page 152, places these institutions as early as the seventh century, viz., 
 about the year 673, but it is probable that they date from still earlier times, and that the limits assigned 
 were governed by the previous disposition of property. 
 
 I ./»///(.? Frontinus, page 57; Dolahella, p. 302, Lachman's edit.; see also Aggeni Urbici Comment, in 
 Front. Amsterdam, 1674.
 
 2L lioman Antiquities recoitli/ discovered on the site of the 
 
 ■R-e are on surer ground. St. Benct's Church stood, as do so many of the City 
 churches, npou the site of E-oman buildings. When pulled down a few years since 
 numerous Avails, tiles, and other objects were discovered with fine fragments of 
 Roman glass. The existence of important buildings here had been indicated 
 some thu'ty years ago, and led to the opinion that the present Gracechurch Street 
 was not one of the old highways. More recent investigations have, however, 
 shown that it probably does represent one of the great roads through the 
 City ; and careful examination has now proved that no structural remains of the 
 Homan period can have occured throughout its coiirse ; on either side of the street 
 debris of buildings have been seen with fragments of tessellated pavements and 
 other traces of early dwellings, but nothing has existed along the actual line of 
 road. In 1872, a new sewer was constructed at a great depth for the Great 
 Eastern Eailway Company, extending from Norton Folgate to the corner of 
 Gracechurch Street, and Mr. Frank Burt, who superintended the works, paid 
 every attention that could be given to the preservation of antiquities ; nothing 
 was however seen, either while sinking the fifteen necessary shafts or forming 
 the connecting tunnels between them. He has kindly favoured the writer 
 with a complete section to scale of the line traversed, and this conclusively 
 shows the undisturbed character of the soil. It indicates at a glance the varying 
 depths from the surface level to the solid London clay. The greatest dc})th of 
 made earth occurs in the district extending from Eastcheap to Threadneedle 
 Street. This varies from 15 to 26 feet, and rests ujion unmoved gravelly soil, but 
 near Leadenhall Street a stratum of loam appears between the two, which extends 
 from this point to Norton Eolgate. In this depth of soil, which so strongly 
 shows the extensive filling-in observed in other parts of the City since JJomau 
 times, there was a total absence of structural* remains, such as were observed 
 at the south-west corner of Fenchurch Street, and upon cither side of the main 
 thoroughfare both east and west. It is here to be observed, that though Grace- 
 church Street commences at Eastcheap it is the south-west corner referred to 
 wliich marks the Avard boundary oC Bishopsgatc Street Within. Mr. Burt's 
 
 • It can only be such remains in situ tliat are of any great iniijorliiuce in estimating tlie [losition of the 
 city. The mere finding of antiquities is but of little assistance and uncertain evidence as to actual occupation. 
 So much rubbish has been removed from one locality to another in the course of centuries that such evidence 
 is but of little value. An illustration of this is mentioned in Ilughson's Zonifon, vol. i. p. 34. Speaking 
 of discoveries at St. Mary's Woolnoth, Lombard Street, the writer says, vast quantities of broken pottery 
 and antiquities were seen, and were taken away with the rubbisii to mend the roads about St. George's 
 Fields. After the Great Fire of ICCC a similar slate of things must frequently liavc occurred.
 
 National Safe Dejwsit Conqmn'i/s jiremises. 25 
 
 invest ig-ations alike dispose of the traditional course assigned to tlic " Lang- 
 bourn," which is so explicitly described by Stow; indeed, it is doubtful whether 
 such a watercourse ever existed at all as a natural stream, and the account of it as 
 given by him is, to say the least, based on imagination only, lie writes : " Lang- 
 borne "Water, so called of the length thereof, was a great stream of water breaking 
 out of the ground in Fanchurch Streete, which ran down with a swift course 
 west through that streete, thwart Grass Street and dounc Lombarde Streete to 
 the west cnde of St. Mary Woolnothes Church ; and then, turning the course 
 south down Sliarebourn Lane, so termed of sharing or dividing, it brake into divers 
 rilles or rillets to the river of Thames. Of this bourne that Wardc took the 
 name, and is till this day called Langborne Warde. This bourne also is long 
 since stopped up at the heade, and the rest of the course filled up and paved over, 
 so that no signe thereof remaineth more than the names aforcsaide." * Our worthv 
 chronicler however is not always to be relied upon : in this case he evidently 
 wrote from tradition and possessed no kuowledg(> from personal observation, or he 
 would never have written so erroneous a description. The levels and condition of 
 the ground altogether extending from Fenehurch Street down Lombard Street to 
 the Mansion House demonstrate at once that no such stream has ever flowed 
 there ; so also in speaking of the ward he writes : " The long bourne of sweetc 
 water on turning south and breaking itself into many small shares, rilles, or 
 streames, left the name of Shai'ebourne Lane, or Souchborne Lane, as I have 
 read, because it ranne south to the river of Thames." This Stow is candid 
 enough to admit as traditional. It is evidently a mistake, for the locality which 
 he has assigned to this watercourse is just one which must have been one of the 
 most densely populated portions of the City. There are few sites at Avhicli the 
 evidences of domestic occupation have appeared more plentiful than Lombard 
 Street and its adjacent thoroughfares. At Bircliin Lane, Clement's Lane, Nicholas 
 Lane, &c., the relics found have been numerous and of the earliest period in the 
 history of Roman London ; therefore, had any sucli stream existed as the Lang- 
 bourne some trace of it must have been discovered. It was in forming a new 
 sewer beneath Lombard Street and Birchin Lane, in the year 1785, that the 
 important remains were observed which are described and illustrated in the 
 eight volume of the Archteologia. Commencing near Sherbournc Lane, the exca- 
 vations revealed at the depth of 12 feet a tessellated pavement; the breadth of 
 this from east to west was 20 feet, its length was not discovered, but it was 
 
 • Stow's Survey of London, 1598, p. 13. 
 
 d
 
 26 jRoman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 observed again in subsequent excavations in tbe year ].8-i0,* when coins of 
 Yespasiau, flue-tiles, portions of ampboroB and Samian pottery were also found. 
 Allen, in bis History of London,! refers to otber walls and pavements wbieb were 
 dug up in proceeding along Lombard Street, together with burnt wood and ashes, 
 with other evidences of an extensive conflagration. In Birchin Lane similar relics 
 were observed, and near to Nicholas Lane be records, in addition, tbe finding of 
 large quantities of Roman coins ranging from the time of Claudius to Tetricus. 
 In Clement's Lane remains of buildings are plentiful, and as recently as tbe year 
 1865 several perfect amphorce were discovered at a considerable depth, and 
 evidently in situ. Most of these objects appeared at levels varying from nine to 
 twelve feet from the surface, but memorials of tbe Higher Empire were found 
 stni deeper. 
 
 In excavating for the new premises now being erected by Messrs, Allen, 
 Hanbury, and Co. of Plough Court, Lombard Street, numerous indications of 
 Roman buildings have been found, portions of walls in situ, composed of tile and 
 rag-stone, with various relics of a domestic character. Among them are fine 
 specimens of Samian ware, which have been preserved by Mr. F. J. Hanbury, 
 F.L.S. They comprise elegant varieties of the embossed or figured kind, and 
 other fragments upon which are inscribed the following potters' names : — 
 
 BELINICCI . M. 
 
 OF . 
 
 , MVERAN. 
 
 TRITS. 
 
 DAGOMAKVS. 
 
 OF 
 
 . AQVITNI. 
 
 TATEECLrS. 
 
 ITENIS . F. 
 
 OF , 
 
 . PVDEN. 
 
 SILVI . OF. 
 
 LOGIRNI. 
 
 OF . 
 
 , MODE. 
 
 
 MVKEAN. 
 
 OF . 
 
 . TBIM. 
 
 
 We have already mentioned the remains beneath the church of St. Mary 
 Woolnoth ; these also adjoined a pavement, and were found about the year 1730, 
 when digging the founolations of the church. It is probable, therefore, that 
 if any watercourse existed of sufficient importance ever to originate the name of 
 Langbourne, it c;;uld have been l)iil little better than a ditcli, or perhaps an 
 artificial trench or channel, which, receiving the drainage of the immediate localil v, 
 fell into the "Walbrook near to the present site of tbe Mansion House. At tlie 
 south-east corner of the present excavations the works were hindered by tbe 
 presence, at a considerable depth, of large quantities of water, and there is no 
 doubt from the circumstance of the Mansion House having to be erected upon 
 
 • MS. Diary of the late K. li. Price, F.S.A. t Vol- i. r- ^G.
 
 National Safe Deposit Company^ s premises. 27 
 
 wooden planks and piles,* that this particular iiortion of the eastern bank of the 
 brook abounded in sprinp^s and Avas of a wet and bogyy character. The vast 
 quantities of wooden piling Avhich have been removed from a depth in some places 
 of ui^wards of thirty i'eet has indicated the direction of this bank, and at the 
 same time forcibly illustrated the unstable character of the soil. 
 
 Stukeley considered the Mansion House to have been built upon a ditch, and 
 evidently based his opinion upon the nature of the ground. This particular 
 portion of the l)rook must have been an important situation in Roman days, and 
 it is probable that the stream was here of some considerable width, increased, 
 may be, by tributaries, which, flowing from the opposite portion of the city, found 
 an exit on the western bank. It formed as we have said a natural boundary to 
 the first city, and this opinion now receives important corroboration from the 
 results of the late excavations. The discovery of a limitary monument has been 
 already briefly referred to. The finding of this was as unexpected as it is 
 interesting, and the facts which are to be derived from its consideration afford 
 valuable testimony to conclusions, which, in the absence of actual ilhistration, 
 have hitherto been based upon the comparison of certain passages which exist in 
 obscure but authentic writers of antiquity. 
 
 At the north-east corner of the works, and parallel with Charlotte E,ow, there 
 was discovered at a depth of about thirty feet from the surface-level a wooden 
 framework, three feet square : it was of oak, and as it lay in sitir had the 
 appearance of a wooden box or tank. Tlie four sides were of uniform width, 
 viz., eight inches, and the timber of which they were formed one and a-half inch 
 thick. It was beneath much of the old wooden piling which at this spot appeared 
 in profusion, and marks the very uncertain width of the old watercourse, also 
 below the made earth and debris of E/Oman times, and it had clearly been 
 placed upon the natural soil as a lasting memorial, and with some special 
 intention as to its significance. 
 
 Upon examination of the clay within the frame, for the purpose of ascertaining 
 if there was any bottom to the structure, we observed that the soil had been 
 " puddled " in, and differed from the undisturbed clay outside. This we con- 
 sidered to indicate something below, and therefore bestowed especial care on the 
 
 • March 21, 1738. A sub-committee had viewed the ground, and reported that "there will be a 
 necessity for piling and planking the greatest part thereof, to lay the foundations upon." Jour. .'J8, fc, 1256. 
 This work was so considerable as to cause " a combination amongst workmen to raise the price of piling 
 and planking." Jour. Iviii. fo. 133. See Archseologia, xxxiii. p. 110. 
 
 (12
 
 28 Moman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 removal of the contents : the puddling extended to a depth of two feet, and lielow 
 this appeared a deposit of pottery, in fragments of almost every conccivahle 
 description of ware that the Romans are known to have fabricated. Tliese 
 specimens are all preserved, and they illustrate the light-hroAvn earthenware, the 
 black, the grey, and other varieties of that particular class of pottery designated 
 as the Upchurch-w^are, pieces of the Durobrivian or Castor Pottery, red tiles, 
 portions of amphorce, and, in order to identify Avith certainty the Eoman cliaracter 
 of the deposit, there was one small fragment of highly-glazed Samian ware. 
 ■\Tith all this there appeared a single specimen of an oyster-shell. Nothing else 
 was found, simply a small collection of selected objects buried in a place of 
 securitv, and beneath two or three feet of London clay, their position being 
 marked by the protecting framework. An amount of labour had been expended 
 over this deposit of potsherds which can only be explained by the existence at 
 the time of some particular rule or custom for which reverence had been felt by 
 those who had buried them. 
 
 At a distance of about five feet south-west of the deposit there was discovered 
 a perfect amphora of globular form. This is figured in Plate 1; it is twenty 
 inches in diameter, and has upon one of the handles, in stamped letters, the name 
 CVAVIS. This vessel had been likewise embedded to a depth in the clay 
 of three feet, and therefore was in no accidental position. It evidently formed 
 part of one and the same intention, whatevei- that may have been. 
 
 The findiu"- of such remains would not some years ago have excited much 
 attention, and it is probable that the frame would have been broken up and 
 destroyed without even a record of its existence being preserved. The actual relics 
 mi"-ht have enriched the cabinets of collectors ; but even this is doubtful, their 
 unattractiveness, and the absence of anything of intrinsic value to ensure tlu> 
 attention of the finder, would have led to all being removed as rubbish, and 
 certainly the value of any record of the relics as a structural deposit would have 
 been unsuspected and eventually lost sight of. 
 
 The remains are evidently tliose of an area fuialis, a monument emijloyed 
 by the Ptoman surveyors to indicate tiie situation of limits, either as con- 
 nected with public or private properly. Such arccc were of various kinds and 
 contained objects difi^cring in character, but each form possessing a certain 
 significance with respect to terminal boundaries. They must have abound(>d in 
 this country, and Mku'c jjrobably exist in anticpiaiian works records ol' many 
 which have slill 1o hi' ifh'iiliricd ; fhere are doubtless others yet to be excavated, 
 and it is therefore to the fiilnre th;il we iiuist look for Ihe knowledge eventually
 
 National Safe Deposit Company's premises. 29 
 
 to be gained from their study and investigation. Hitherto they have been 
 passed over and negleeted by J^higlish antiquaries, though receiving attention 
 from our brethren on the continent.* They belong to a numerous but obscure 
 class of monuments the existence and importance of which cannot be oveidooked, 
 and it is only by a careful study of the writings of the agrimensors, aided by 
 cautious comparison, that Ave shall be able to ascertain the full depth and meaning 
 of their significance. The area was one only of a series of signs by which the 
 Roman surveyor left evidence of his profession. It was a structure intended to 
 mark the precise situation at which a junction occurred between three or four 
 portions of laud, viz., at Irlfinla or qnadrlfmia. It was to be more or less buried ; 
 was to be a Availed structure and to contain certain specified objects. As 
 described in the texts, it was usually formed of tiles or stone, but the material 
 would in no Avay affect its significance. Certain regions t Avould enjoy different 
 customs ; therefore much would depend on the taste and fancy of the surveyor. 
 The examples found in this country have as yet been principally formed of timber 
 or sometimes simple excavations in the earth, lined Avith stones or otherAvisc 
 protected, but always containing typical contents. J Such symbols were often 
 broken potsherds, pieces of metal, glass, lime, shells, bones, and sometimes coins. 
 Perfect vessels might also be selected, and it is expressly laid down that the 
 discovery of any such objects Avould illustrate the proximity of a boundary. 
 
 Among other descriptions of termini Ave learn that in private assignments the 
 proprietors selected of their own free choice the limitary mark, some adopted 
 trees or shrubs, or aA'ailed themselves of the positions of woods, ditches or 
 streams, a Avooden stake, small heaps of stones, and in fact usually appropriating 
 objects most readily to hand ; sometimes at angles, more than one terminvis would 
 be i)laced, one for the satisfaction of each possessor. Sepulchres also were some- 
 times final : they might mark the resting place of the OAvner, and at the same 
 
 • Vide Bulletin de la Societe des Anti(iuaires de Fiancu, p. 170-181. A paper by "SI. Devals, in wliich 
 tlie author refers to discoveries at Jlontbarticr, which indicate that the practices of the Agrimensors were 
 still in full vigour in France as late as the seventh century. 
 
 t See Lachman's Gromatici Veteres, pp. 227-228, and numerous other references; also 312-31.3. 
 
 t Ergo ut superius legitur, unaquajque regionem habet conditionem. Lachman, p. 348-9. Si enim 
 sunt certae leges, consuetudines et observationes semper signuni in omnibus finibus positum est aut aliqui 
 cineres, aut carbones, aut testse, aut ossa, a\it vitrum, aut massa ferri, aut aerea?, aut calce, aut gypso, aut 
 vasa fictilia invenieraus et cum quibusdam sasorum fragminibus conculcabant atque diligcnte cura 
 firmabant, ut ferniius starent, tale ergo signum inter dormios inte quos fines terminabantur fuciebant. 
 " Fragnienta Terminalia, Rei Agrarire Auctores," p. 148. See also a similar statement in Siculus 
 Flaccus in the same work ; also in Lachman's edition, p. 140.
 
 30 Homan Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 time define the limit of his property. Certain signs were present if the tomb 
 was to be viewed as a limitary monument.* The presence of fictile vessels either 
 broken or entire were among the illustrative evidence of its intention as a 
 terminus. If these signs were not at first apparent the earth might be examined 
 for a distance of five feet in case they should be buried, and in this circumstance 
 we have an illustration of the position of the perfect amphora as connected with 
 the area at Walbrook which may be more than a coincidence. Its presence 
 may be but an additional proof of the deposit being a terminal mark, and its 
 contiguitv to the timber framing; is thus accounted for. In some localities 
 where pools or ditches would ' indicate natural limits there was a signification 
 of the same by the placing a sepulchre on the bank. It was not however 
 imperative that such disinguishing marks should be placed at boundaries, there- 
 fore such misrht not alwavs be found when looked for, but as a custom the 
 practice was observed. Sometimes, says Siculus Flaccus, nothing would be hidden, 
 or merely such objects as we have already enumerated ; and the selection of 
 these varied, as elsewhere remarked, at different times and places. Pottery, 
 bricks, and ridge tiles {orcas, latercidl, and hnhrices), were often used and 
 sometimes in connection with the area ; f amphorce might also be imbedded for 
 the purpose, and occasionally these would be placed in an iuA^erted position, " aut 
 vertices amphoram defixi." Solid blocks of stone or others cut into certain 
 shapes and at times inscribed with marks or letters had especial significance ; 
 trees also that were indigenous being in a suitable position would be suff'ered to 
 remain. Such would be preserved or others of an unfamiliar species substituted, 
 that the position might appear the more distinct. In this latter can we not trace 
 tlie intention of some of those ancient trees which still exist in isolated situations 
 and have become as it were the landmarks of history ? They are probably 
 descendants of others planted by Roman hands and in common with many old 
 hedges and dilches connected with tlie early colonisation of our country. In 
 
 • See a fragment from a lost work of the agrimensor Dolabella ; ufter st;iting that all monuments are not 
 final, and that certain indications must be looked for, lie writes: — " Fines sepulturarios sive cinerarios sic 
 intelligis, quo vudant rigores inter possessiones, juxta sepnlturam sunt Inixus, sunt etiam cinercs, aut cacabos 
 invenis, aut orcas fractas, aut ccrtc integras. Ut invenias si finalis est sepultura, qua;ris longe ab ea pedes 
 quinque, aut aratro terram agis, et si inveneris ea signa, finalis est sepuhura." — Laeliman, p. 30."!. 
 
 • .See Siculus Flaccus. Lachman, p. 134 — " Imbricem ante arcam constitutam." Also in reference to 
 the contents or furniture of the rtrc« — thus, Stcpe imbrices in fincm posuimus sajpe instructuras fecimus. 
 Ibid. 349. Compare, too, a reference at page 34."), to the placing of termini in valleys, the authors say, if 
 an imbrex or roofing tile be found in front of an area, or a tulic lapcring to a point, it wonM ilenole a 
 stream. The ajipearance of three tiles would indicate a trijiiiimn.
 
 National Safe Deposit Coinpanr/s premises. 31 
 
 spoalvinp^ of Anglo-Saxon England Mr. Coote remarks how that in the earliest 
 diplomat a " it was not only a cultivated but an inclosed country, not only 
 divided ])y high roads, cross roads, and lanes, hut its separate holdings arc 
 distinguished hy fences, hedgerows, ditches, stones, trees, and posts." * Mounds 
 and hillocks of earth too had a conspicuous position, their elevations and 
 contents possessed a meaning. With the old writers they were termed " hoton- 
 tini," t and there are many yet remaining in this country, though large numbers 
 have been sacrificed. In all future removals it is to he hoped that a record may 
 he preserved of their position, as well as of their apparently uninteresting con- 
 tents, which might probably he nothing more than a mere deposit of selected 
 objects such as we have described. 
 
 For comparison with the area described we may refer to a construction of 
 like chai'acter found in London about the year 1835, and the record of which 
 appeared in the twenty-ninth volume of the Archocologia by our esteemed friend 
 Mr. lloach Smith. He says, 
 
 But the most iinportaiit discovery in the line of exc.ivation from Lotlibury to tiie Wall was 
 made ou the Coleman Street side, near the public-house called the Swan's Nest, where was laid 
 open a pit or well containing a store of earthen vessels of various patterns and capacities. This 
 well liad been carefully planked over with thick boards, and at first'-cxliibited no signs of contain- 
 ing anything besides the native gravelly soil, but at a considerable depth other contents were 
 revealed. The vases were placed on their sides longitudinally, and presented the appearance of 
 being regulaidy packed or embedded in the mud or sand, which had settled so closely round them 
 that a great number Avere broken or damaged in being extricated ; but those preserved entire, or 
 ncarlv so, are of the same kind as the handles, necks, and pieces of the light-brown coloured 
 vessels met with in such profusion throughout the Roman level in London. Some are of a darker 
 clay approaching to a bluish black, with bordei's of reticulated work running round the upper 
 part, and one of a singularly elegant form is of a pale-bluish colour with a broad black border at 
 the bottom. Some are without handles, others have either one or two. Their capacity for liquids 
 may be stated as varying from one quart to two gallons, though some that were broken were ot 
 much larger dimensions. A small Samian patera, with the ivy-leaf boi'der, and a few figured 
 pieces of the same, were found near the bottom of this well, and also a small brass coin of Allectus, 
 
 • See Neglected Fact in English History, by H. C. Coote, F.S.A. p. 52. 
 
 \ In limitibus vero ubi rariores terminos constituimus monticellos plant.avimus de terra quos botontinos 
 appellavinius. See Faustus .ind Valerius. Lachman, p. 308. Some remarkable examples have recently been 
 illustrated and described by Jlr. C. Monkman, of Malton, with notes by II. C. Coote, F.S.A. in the Journal 
 of the Yorkshire Archseological Society. These contained cruciform platforms, in addition to various 
 selected objects, such as animal bones, pottery, burnt stones, flag slates, bone pins, snail shells, glass, horse 
 shoes, scraps of iron, &c. These mounds were at Helperthorpe, Swinton, and Fimber, and are valuable 
 illustrations of the texts of the agrimensura and its application to Britain.
 
 32 Moman Antiquities recent! [i discovered on the site of the 
 
 with reverse of tlic galley, "Virtus Aug." and uiorcovcr two iron ini])lcmcuts resembling a boat- 
 hook and a bucket-handle ; the latter of these carries such a homely and modern look, that had I 
 no farther evidence of its history than the mere assurance of the excavators I should have 
 instantlv rejected it from susjiieion of its having been brought to the spot to be palmed oti' on the 
 unwary ; but the fiict of those articles being disinterred in the presence of a trustworthy person in 
 mv employ disarms all duubt of their authenticity. Tlie dimensions of the pit or -woU Avere about 
 2 feet 9 inches or 3 feet square, and it was boarded on each side with narrow planks about 
 2 feet long and H to 2 inches thick placed upright, but which framework was discontinued 
 towards the bottom of the pit, which merged from a square into an oval form. 
 
 This deposit evidently adjoined the hank of the Walbrook. The " Swan's 
 Nest " public-house still exists, and is situate in Great Swan Alley, Moorgate 
 Street, at the back of Lothbury. The said watercourse, after leaving Brokers' 
 How, fell into the town ditch by Allhallows-on-the-Wall, leaving it at the top of 
 Little Bell Alley, out of which Swan Alley runs. It then took a sharp turn in its 
 direction by St. Margaret's Lothbury, where it crossed what is now Princes 
 Street, and pursued its course beneath Grocers' Hall and St. Mildred's Court ; 
 anywhere in the immediate neighbourhood of the "Swan's Nest" must have 
 adjoined the natural boundary marked by the bank of the ancient stream." * 
 
 In the foregoing it may be observed that the dimensions of this structure are 
 very similar to those of the timber frame now discovered, and that, though the 
 contents differ, they nevertheless strictly harmonise with the texts of the 
 agrimensors. In both there is the quadrangular shaft, and in both there is 
 the same intentional care in depositing the pottery. In the latter case care for 
 the preservation of the vessels has been evidenced by the presence of the 
 crook and bucket-handle, the woodwork belonging to the latter of which has 
 naturally perished. Prom the coin of Allectus we gather that it must have been 
 quite at the close of the third century, if not later, tliat the deposit was made ; this 
 also harmonises with our present discovery, and serves to illustrate both. The avca 
 found at Walbrook contained no coins, but among those found in the debris above 
 it none that we have seen arc later than the time of Antoninus Pius, whose reign 
 extended from a.d. 1.38 to 161. The conclusion is lliercfore that, while this may 
 serve to illustrate the limitation of London at an early period, the other higher up 
 the river-bank — but still defining the natural boundary of the watercourse— was 
 connected with limits appertaining to ])r()i)orly when the City became extended 
 
 • See Roman Remains in London awl Middlesex, by J. K. Trice, F.S.A., Trans. Loiidun niui ?iliddli;sex 
 Arch. Society, vol. iii.
 
 National Safe Deposit Comjmm/s premises. 33 
 
 in tliat direction. Further, such arccc dcfinecl as avo have seen the position of 
 trifiiiia or qii(i(triji)iia, and a singular illustration of this may be seen in the 
 AValbrook discovery. A reference to our map will show that its position is 
 close to the line of junction between the three wards of Cornhill, Walhrook, and 
 Cheap, and, viewed in this light, a curious confirmation is aflTorded of the 
 view that the " regions " of the old Roman city are identical with, or at least the 
 precursors of, the ward divisions of our own time. The area is sufTjcieutly near 
 to the line of boundary if not actually upon it ; it is not necessary for it to appear 
 at the precise spot. We are explicitly told that the presence of such a monument 
 indicates that we are to look for a boundary in the vicinity, and in some places 
 that the symbolical a)'ca \\ as placed outside the limits. Its preservation also on 
 the eastern bank after the great extension 6f the City in a westerly direction 
 may be also explained. In the occupation of new territory it was not necessary 
 that all old landmarks should be removed. Hyginus tells us how such boundaries 
 became extended, and refers to the difference between the ancient allotments and 
 the new. He illustrates this by one of the provinces in Campania. In the 
 city of Minturmc the later limits were beyond the river Litis. In assigning tlic 
 land on the opposite side of the river, the old termini were left, in order that 
 record of the limit should be preserved.* 
 
 The presence of these two monuments on the line of Walbrook leads to the 
 inference that we may look for other relics of like character and intention at 
 other places along the line of the embankment ; at present however these appear 
 to be the only instances of which we can preserve a record as connected with 
 our own city. In the country such remains have been also found, and many of 
 them serve as important illustrations to the truth of the foregoing observations. 
 A selection is here given, some of which have been generously contributed by my 
 friend Mr. II. C. Coote, F.S.A. to whom so much credit is due as having been the 
 first among English antiquaries to publish his researches in this direction, and 
 thus invite attention to a most important subject of inquiry. In the following 
 account of a discovery at Eiddenham, in Bedfordshire, an illustration is afforded 
 of the estimation in which this class of monument was held by the immense 
 labour and trouble which must have been expended on such a singular deposition 
 of objects as are described. 
 
 * " Ubi jam oportuna iinium commutatione rclictis prima; assignationis terminis, more arcifinio possi- 
 deretur. Hyginus de Limit, constit." — Lachman, p. 178. 
 
 e
 
 34 Roman Antiquities recenthj discovered on the site of the 
 
 As some workmen were digging for gravel in Biddenliani field, about two miles from Bedford, 
 and about 100 yards from the high road (a Roman road), which leads to Bromham Bridge, 
 they happened upon what appeared to be tlie shaft of a mill. The shaft was of some depth, and 
 contained a series of deposits in the following order: Bones of a small dog, bones of a large dog, 
 burnt stones, Roman pottery, a human skeleton, Roman sculpture, burnt stones again, altar-slab, 
 bones of horse, dog, and ox, burnt stones, bones of fox, rat, hog, &c. ; stone whorls, leather soles 
 of shoe or sandal, Roman pottery, Samian ware, boars' tusks and nails, burnt stones, various 
 bones, logs of wood, fragments of Roman pottery in sufficient quantity to make fifty urns, pieces 
 of black thorn. The shaft was filled uj) with jiebbles, which had been calcined to their centre and 
 dispersed from the top to the bottom. 
 
 In a paper * descriptive of this cliscovei-y the Rev. W. Monkhouse, B.D., 
 observes that the area occujiied by the gravel, through which the shaft had been 
 sunk, A\as very considerable, and that there was nothing in the vicinity to 
 indicate domestic occupation, or lead to the supposition that the remains were 
 simply those of an ancient well. The character of the soil also was such that 
 before the introduction of artificial industry it could not possibly have been worth 
 cultivating, and the situation of the shaft on the crown of the hill Avas one most 
 unlikely for water to be found. The field, too, is mentioned in old records as 
 *' connigarde," a term used in Norman laws to denote a rabbit warren. There 
 were no signs of the action of a bucket by abrasion of the Avail of the shaft, and 
 it must have been filled up at one and the same time. The author views it as a 
 sepulchre, and thinks its situation may have had some connection Avith the vicinal 
 Avay termed the Akeman Street, which, starting from Bath to Newport Pagnell, 
 proceeded in an uncertain direction to Bedford, and thence to the Eastern 
 Counties. Presuming it to have passed by Astwood, Stagsden, Bromham Bridge, 
 and Biddenham, the sepulchre would be some 300 feet from the line of way. 
 
 Another illustration is that afforded by a discovery which occurred at Preston in 
 Dorsetshii'c f in the year 1813, and which is described as folloAVS in the Gentleman^ s 
 Magazine, vol. xxi. by Charles Warnc, F.S.A. 
 
 The dry summer of 1842 having shown in the then growing cr()])s of ('(irn in a field at Rroston 
 indications of extensive buildings, excavations were in the spring ol' the ])ast year made, wliiih 
 .soon brought to view tiie foundations of a massive wall, live icct in thickness, and forming a 
 square of about 280 feet : within this (|uandrungle was the foundation of another building .15 irct 
 .sijuarc ; the soil within this iinior building was removed, and (he few coins and fragments of 
 jiottery whicli were tiirmd iip cliMrh- pnivcd it to br nl' lumian oiigiii. Itiit (he most singular 
 
 • Associated Architectural Societies Rcportx, vul. i\-. p. 2S;J. 
 f Gentleman's Mat/azine, vol. xxi. New Series.
 
 Xiitionul Safe Deposit 00)112^(1)11/ s p)-e))iises. 35 
 
 discovery made was tliat of a shaft sunk in tlic south-east t-onicr, wliieh was ahnut 4 feet hy 2^ 
 feet in diameter, and nearly 15 feet deep. The contents of tliis ])it were of a very ]iceiiliar 
 ciiaraeter ; the sides had tliin flat stones placed round, wliicli, from holes in many of them, 
 appeared to have been previously used for the covering (as at the present day) of a roof. <Jn 
 penetrating into the shaft a layer of cliarcoal and ashes was met with ; then a double layer of the 
 same description of flat stones covered the whole area of the shaft ; between these stones was 
 deposited a quantity of small (chiefly birds') bones and thin brass coins of ap])arently the Lower 
 Empire, but their condition was such that (with the exception of one of 'fheodosius) tliey could 
 not be apjiropriatcd. Six or seven of these layers of charcoal and flat stones, with bones and 
 coins, were continued in succession, when a straight sword, about ii inches in length, and much 
 corroded, was found. Under this were seven more continuous layers as before, which lironght 
 us to the bottom of the pit : hero was a larger sword, 36 inches long, and straight as the other, 
 with numerous fragments of iron, viz., spear-heads, rings, crooks, part of the handle of a bucket, 
 of similar shape with that in use in the ]ircsent time, and various other articles, all wdiich appeared 
 to have undergone tlie action of fire. With these were also fragments of coarse j)ottery, and two 
 vessels of the same description of ware, which were entire, and whose .shape indicated thi^ir 
 adaptation to domestic uses. The shaft was probed to its bottom ; but, as the land was about to be 
 sown with corn, it was necessary that the excavations should here be discontinued ; a circum- 
 stance to be regretted, as but a small portion of the ground in the space between the outer and 
 iiuier walls was moved. The only interesting objects here discovered were the bases of two 
 pillars of apparently the Doric order, both of wdiieh must have been disj)laccd from their original 
 jtosition. The numerous fragments of Roman pottery strewn over the adjoining soil, as well as 
 the circumstances of the finding in the same tield, in 1812, an urn filled with lloman coins, 
 chiefly of the tyrants from Gordon to Posthumus (many of which, in the finest condition, I have 
 in my collection) establish the fact of extensive Roman occupation. I feel a diflldenee in 
 hazarding a conjecture on these singular discovei'ies, particularly as regards the sliaft, further 
 than that I think it is quite evident that its contents must have formed a series of sacrificial 
 deposits. With reference to the building itself, I would merely suggest the j)robability of the 
 interior portion liaving been used by the Romans as a Pharos, of -which tlio outward wall was 
 u.sed as a jirotcction. The substructure occupied a site most advantageously placed for such an 
 object, being situated about a quarter of a mile from the shore, on an eminence commanding the 
 whole of the beautiful bay of Weymouth, in addition to an extensive view oi' the channel. An 
 ancient via wdiich led from henec to the landing jdacc on the shore is still easily traced.* 
 
 • From a report of a mecliiig of the Ashmolean Society, at which the late Dr. Buckhind reail a 
 paper on the above discoveries, we glean that between each pair of tiles was the skeleton (>f one bird wiili 
 one small Roman coin, and above the upper tier of tiles another bed of ashes. Similar beds, each inclosing 
 the bird and coin, were repeated sixteen times between the top and bottom of the well. The hirers reff n ed 
 to were the raven, buzzard, crow, and starling; there were also bones of a liare. Vide- Gent. Muij. 
 New Series, xxii. 635, 636, quoted by Mr. Coote. Also report in the Times of 18 Nov. 1844. 
 
 e2
 
 3G Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 In the foregoing it will be obsevvecl that the remains of hnilclings are referred 
 to. These it is possible are illustrations of the practice already referred to, viz. 
 the erection by tlie proprietors of a sacred building upon the confines of their 
 possessions. 
 
 In the year 1847 a singular discovery was made at Heydon Hill in Essex by 
 the Hon. R. C. Neville, which is described and illustrated by Joseph Clarke, 
 P.S.A. in the fourth volume of the joui-nal of the British Archttological 
 Association.* It occurred at about half a mile from the village of Heydon, and 
 at a short distance to the right of the road leading to Poulmire. Mr. Clarke 
 writes : — 
 
 It is a small and nearly square room dug into the northern side of one of the numerous little 
 hills or undulations thereabouts, roughly built round Avitli pieces of chalk, the top of the structure 
 having about four feet of earth above it. The bottom or floor B is apparently of lumps of chalk, 
 and forms a hard conglomerate. On this floor at the northern part of the building is another 
 raised smaller portion, C, of the same material and about a foot in height, probably forming a 
 step into it. Around three sides of the floor B, the fourth side being so disturbed as to defy 
 exact location (but I judge there could be none) is a trench A, which was found filled with 
 charcoal and ashes, &.c. It is about eighteen inches deep and about as much wide, terminating 
 abruptly at E in a peculiar narrow, small, deep channel, not more than two or three inches in 
 width, and from its decli\it3' from without nuist have been an inlet as if liir tlie purpose of 
 conveying fluid into the trench A. Surrounding the whole is a roughly built wall composed of 
 irregular pieces of clunch (hard chalk) rudely squared. It is about four feet high from the bottom 
 of the trench and forms one side of it. The corner F presents an appeai-ance of arching, which 
 suggests the idea of its having becni domed or partially ilonieil o\i'r, luit if this su|)positic)ii be 
 correct it must have been very low, the springing of the overhanging l>locks of (;lialk being not 
 more than two feet six inches above the floor B. Marks of tiro are palpably visible in the upright 
 walls D D D, but as there arc no evidences of wearing or biu'ning away it could have been but 
 little used. A small brass coin of Constantins (l''lavius .Inlius) the second, and t'ragmcnts of 
 Samian and other Jloman fictile ware and implements found in it, indicate it to be <>[' tli;il ]ieriod, 
 and conjecture is busy in suggesting an origin for this mysterious cavity. From the arching 
 appearance at F an inference ma}' be drawn that it was a potter's oven, the floor B being the 
 receptacle of the unburnt vessels surroundcil by the fire in the ti'eueli A. It miixlil Iia\o been for 
 the sacrifice of animals, as bones, antlers, &c. were foimd an<l a small globular bell of brown metal 
 resembling a cattle or horse bell, and similar to those bells of the ])resent day called riuiihlers 
 (those of the shape of chui'eh iii'lls being called latin bells or /«<»is) worn by teams of horses, a 
 custom not yet quite extinct in the south of England. < )n comparison a skeleteu lu'ad t'ound 
 there ])rovcd to be thai of .an ass, but this might have been aeeli|ent;d, as the room niiglil have 
 
 • Wc are indebted to ilie council of the liritibli Archffiological Associatimi lor tlio loan of tlicse 
 iihistratinns.
 
 ROMAN REMAINS NEAR HEYDON HILL, ESSEX.
 
 National Safe Deposit Co))ipaiiij's premises. 37 
 
 been in a ililupidated state ami tlie crcatiiro niij^ht Iiavc I'allcii in and jicrlslicd. But the fnulini;- 
 of a bracolct or anklet of hron/o siiggosls that it may have been a place of s(>])ultnr(! where tlu; 
 corpse of some one of ilistiuetion was eonsunied according to the Roman funeral rites. 
 
 In this iiccount wc read of more than one suggestion as to the moaning of tlie 
 structure. It is viewed as mi/sterious, and from its arched roofing is thought to 
 have been a potter s oven, a place of sacrifice, or the last resting place of some 
 individual of distinction. The editor also considers the remains to be sepulchral, 
 and remarks that originally they were probably " covered with a mound of earth, 
 which may have been levelled by the agriculturist at some former period." No 
 human remains however are recorded and the idea of burial rests alone on the 
 circumstance of a bronze bracelet being found. The structure moreover is of a 
 character of which descriptions appear in our text, and its contents are alike in 
 harmony. It may have supported a mound of earth and as a variety of tlie 
 " substructio ad terras excipiendas "* represented an " area," and beneath the 
 " botontinus " became a true terminal mark. 
 
 Another verv singular illustration is that of a so-called well discovered near 
 Ispdeu in Oxfordshire. It has been described by Mr. W. Winwood Heade as 
 being within two feet of a footpath. Its mouth was narrow, the sides not bricked, 
 but of rough ribbed chalk. Part of the way down were observed three logs of 
 wood pointing perpendicularly towards the mouth. A line of steps were also 
 discernible, which were cut into the sides with marvellous regularity. They were 
 of the shape and size of a lady's stirrup, and intended, says Mr. Reade, to assist a 
 man "shiiming," as the phrase is, by himself. These steps commenced about twenty 
 feet from the surface. The complete and mathematical manner in which they 
 were chiselled out, and commencing low down in the well for the purposes of 
 concealment, lead to the impression that there was some powerful reason for this 
 arrangement.! It does not appear that anything had been buried, but the shaft 
 was not probed to the bottom, so that this fact has not been ascertained. The 
 presence however of the three logs may be sufficient to invest the shaft with an 
 agrimensorial meaning : they are illustrations of the wooden stakes, fhe pall picati 
 of the old authors, which they tell us were placed underground. t 
 
 About three years ago the late W. li. Black, E.S.A., called my attention 
 to an important discovery of a shaft or pit wliich had been excavated at Bekes- 
 
 • See Tei-minonnn Diaijrammata, Lachnan, p 341. 
 f See Times Newspaper, Oct. 5, 1860. 
 
 \ See Lachman, p. 3-1'J, " Idem partes TusciiE Florentia; qunni inaximc palos iliceos picatos pio 
 termiuibus sub terra defi.\iinus."
 
 38 Roman Antiqiiiiies recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 bourn Hill, near Canterbury, and a descrii^tion of which by John Brent, 
 Jun., F.S.A., had appeared in the second volume of the Archceologia Canliaua. 
 It is described as a sepulcliral shaft, but the following particulars taken from 
 Mr. Brent's communication for comparison with the foregoing will indicate a 
 more important significance, and afford some ground for the belief that it is but 
 another example of these singular terminal signs : — 
 
 Oaken beams a foot square first appeared, and then tlie planking of a quadrilateral oaken sliatt 
 to the depth of six feet, tlien heavy cross-beams, then planking again terminated by four cross- 
 beams at the top. Those lay 25 feet below the surfoce. The cross-beams were feet 
 6 inches in length, firmly mortised together. The planks were mortised or rabbeted together, 
 antl let into the beams, each plank being pierced by transverse ties, crossing the corners of the 
 shaft inside, and giving to the entire structure the appearance of having a flight of steps or stays 
 within. These ties projected two or three inches on tlie outside. There was no appearance of 
 iron or anv other metal having been used in the construction of the shaft, but the whole fabric 
 was closely and skilfully knit together by the mortises and ties, while the weight of the materials 
 themselves and the pressure of the soil around prevented any of the parts becoming displaced. 
 The entire fabric was of oak ; the cross-beams evidencing by their grain that they were the 
 product of lai'ge trees. The wood had become jet black by age ; but, although somewhat soft on 
 the surface, was hard and compact at a short distance within. The interior quadrature of the 
 shaft was 3 feet 3 inches, the cross-ties about a foot long, the beams 6 feet (i inches and 12 inches 
 square. Tlie soil where the fabric was found was gra\-el1y at the surface, lower down of sandy 
 loam. 
 
 The beams and planks were probably all hewn by the axe, yet were as neatly tilted and as wrll 
 proportioned as if done by a skilful artisan in the present day, each morti.sed plank exactly 
 corresponding with the one above it. Wo have been thus minute in detail, as wo know of no 
 other cxamjile of cari)entry ever having been found .so perfect of the undoubted antiquity of the 
 fabric we have described. As it was cleared away from the soil it lnomcd out against the dark 
 earthen bed from which it had been excavated like a mysterious record of a past and unknown 
 a.cQ, exhibiting in .some respects features new and .strange. The top of the shaft when found was 
 covered witii open planks, the structure being entin^ly filled with large flints : the workmen 
 speedily broke dnwn one side, and threw out (he stones. As they apiiniarlicil the base (hey canu' 
 upon a single urn, about ten inches in height, and formed of bluish black clay. It was j)rotected 
 by large flints in some manner arched over it. Beneath it was a layer of Hints, then five urns, 
 one central and one in each corner of the shaft. Among the latter was an iini with a large 
 piece of baked clay placed over its mouth. 
 
 Mr. Brent goes on to say that lie was ])r(>scnt at tlic spot shortly after the 
 contents were removed from the shaft, ai\(l fomul fragments in llie soil taken out 
 of it, and from IIh' pieces lie obtained lie coneluded that there Avcre seven or ein'ht 
 urns ait bin the entoml)inent.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compamfs premises. 39 
 
 Xotliing but a soft wliito elayoy matter was fouiul witliin tlio urns, and tlieso wore thought to 
 be burnt bones in a deh'quescent state. Sonic substance of a fil)r()us texture was found. Tliis 
 might have been yarn which went round the necks of the urns, or matting or woollen cloth laitl 
 over their mouths. Upon exjiosure to the air it speedily dissolved, as did for the most part some 
 walnut or filbert shells. Beneath the last deposit of lu-ns was a flat piece of stone, over a 
 concavity in the earth at tiie bottom of the shaft. It was kept in its place by six pegs, apparently 
 of chestnut wood, pinned around it. On the stone, imbedded in the soil, was arranged a circle of 
 horses' teeth. 
 
 Another discovery of importance, from the circumstance of its seeming to 
 illustrate the various customs of the Roman agrimensors is that described by 
 Samuel Sharpe, E.S.A., F.G.S., in a paper in The Nimiismalic Chronicle^'^' 
 entitled, " lloman Coins found in Surface Soil Ironstone Pits, Dustou, near 
 2sortliamptou." The facts are interesting, and they are thus recorded by 
 Mr. Sharpe : " Three grave-like excavations in the ironstone immediately below 
 the surface-soil were a short time ago discovered. These had a depth of some 
 four feet in the rock, were arranged in a radiating position, and had a flooring 
 covered with ashes, among wliich some burnt stones were found, and a nest of 
 Eomano-Britisli minimi." Here wc possess an illustration in Britain of a passage 
 in the old authors to the effect that coins were sometimes selected as objects for 
 deposition at terminal boundaries. t 
 
 These illustrations could well be amplified had we space at command, Ijut they 
 are sufficient to show that there exists in this country, as well as others, a class of 
 monuments, sui generis, for which no satisfactory explanation has until recently 
 been given. In the descriptive reports of all that have been seen we note that 
 the linders have failed to account for their meaning. With some they are places 
 of sepulture, sites of sacrificial rites, places for the concealment of treasure, and 
 with others but mere pits or wells filled with the refuse of centuries. Such 
 notions have naturally occupied the minds of observers in the hope thereby 
 of accounting for certain distinctive peculiarities. They are hardly sufficient, 
 however, when opposed to existing texts of known authenticity, Avhich tell us of 
 surveys, as practised throughout the provinces of the Empire, and, moreover, J 
 
 * Vol. ix. New Series, p. 1G9. 
 
 t Quia de limitibus curavimus exponere, sub terrainis qualia signa invenimus ? Aut calcem, aut 
 gypsum, aut carbones, aut vitria fracta, aut cineres, aut testain tusani, aut decanummos vel pentaniimmos." 
 Expositic Litnitutii, &c., var. auctores, p. 265. 
 
 { See Rescript of Constantine ahcady mentioned, also the Itiiieraritm Antonini, cited in Godefroye's 
 Xote to the Theod. Code, ii. pp. ■'>bo-\, " provincias orbis terris in longitudinem et latitudinem mensurari." 
 Compare also the references in the writings of the agrimensors to the practice of their art in Spain,
 
 40 Jxoman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 explain with precision the very character of the marks and objects to be looked 
 for. It is in their application that uncertainty arises ; it may be difficult to 
 comprehend the necessity for the vast labour and trouble w hich has in many cases 
 been expended, or for the need of an earthen mound like Silbury Hill, Thetford 
 Mount, or that at Raleigh in Essex; but, being explicitly told that there is a 
 certain application attached to such structures and those of analogous character, 
 it is their meaning that vro have to ascertain. The only necessity is to be cautious 
 in forming deductions ; and by a gradual assemblage of facts, aided by the results 
 of future discoveries, gradually accumulate information for practical use, which, did 
 it lead to no other result than as serving to illustrate the great roads and highways 
 of our land, and the vexed positions of many of the stations in the Antonine 
 Itinerary, would be of sufficient importance to demand attention from all students 
 interested in the early colonization of Britain. 
 
 The fact of limitary monuments occurring on the east bank of the Walbrook 
 Avould seem to exclude the possibility of the first city having been established on 
 the site between that watercourse and the river Fleet, and further, as Stukely 
 would have us to believe, that Cheapside formed the centre, and Lad Lane and 
 Cateaton Street the northern, limit. The dates of the coins found are some 
 evidence that one at least of the two deposits is connected with the earliest 
 occupation of Roman London, and that prior to its great extension. They may 
 also assist us to account for the position of London Stone : this monument occurs 
 
 Portugal, Gaul, Africa, Pannonia, Phrygia, Asia, Dahiiatia, Constantinople, viz. in Lachman's edition, 
 Spain and Portugal, pp. 4, 22, 51-171, Gaul. p. ;553, Africa, pp. 53, 57, 87, 180, 307, 353, Pannonia, pp. 
 121, 205, Phrygia, p. 206, Asia, p. 2i)G, Dalmatia, p. 210, Constantinople, ]>. 351. Se^o also the lievuc 
 Archajologique, N. Series, vol. 20, p. 318, for the description of a terminal monument discovered in 
 .Sardinia. A reference to this has been kindly suggested by Mr. Coote as ad'ording by modern discovery a 
 striking illustration of the truth of the ancient texts. The monument was found in the year 1869 upon a 
 site but a short distance from the sea, upon the western site of Sardinia, at a place called Sisiddu, near the 
 villages of Cagliari and Tres Nuraghcs, in the province of Cagliari. It was a stone, presenting upon each 
 of its two principal faces, cut in parallelogram, an inscription coarsely engraved. There was an inscription 
 also upon one of its two lateral faces, which were considerably narrower. These inscriptions, as read by 
 the author of the account in the " Revue," are 
 
 ■n;i:.MiNvs tek.minvs 
 
 GIDDILITA- OLLAE KVTIIICIANO- 
 
 NOIIVM BVM 
 
 rnui . E . IN . roKTV 
 and it is conjectured that the stone is a terminus of pagi. It is true that no names like thein can be I'oui-.d. 
 but such omissions in the g<'ograi)liy of an island like Sardinia may be understood. The word olhv clearly 
 refers to perfect fictile vessels which we liavc seen were buiied at Icniiinal boundaries.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compam/s xiremises. 41 
 
 along the same lino, and it may really be, Mliat tradition has always asserted it to 
 be, a limitary stone. It has been a subject of discussion for generations of 
 antiquaries, and its object and intention have never yet been clearly ascertained. 
 Such facts as could be gathered respecting it from the City archives were 
 included in the description of the Roman Tessellated Pavement in Bucklersbury, 
 but nothing conclusive was arrived at. It was suggested that it may have formed 
 part of a single stone, once of some magnitude, as a sepulchral monument by tho 
 wayside, or a portion of one of tlie immense buildings wbicli once existed in the 
 locality. In defining the line followed by the stream we shall observe that the 
 stone, prior to its removal in 17i'2 from one side of the roadway to the other, was 
 situate much nearer to the embankment, though it is impossible at this spot to 
 deiine where would be the actual limit of dry land. The locality was a boggy one, 
 and at this particular place the brook most circuitous and uncertain in its course. 
 In the sewerage excavations made some years ago at ToAver Royal, Little St. 
 Thomas Apostle, and Cloak Lane, the channel was observed to be no less than 218 
 feet in width, filled with made earth and mud placed in horizontal layers, and 
 containing a quantity of black timber of small scantling. The form of the banks 
 could be distinctly traced, covered with rank grass and w^eeds. The stone, 
 therefore, would in remote times have had to be erected on the first available spot 
 of ground, and this will be seen to accord very nearly with its original position. 
 It would thus be near the end of Cannon Street, and adjoin the way across the 
 stream which ran westward through Watling Street, and really occupy such a 
 situation as would be selected by the agrimensor. We know that Camden, 
 writing in 1586, considered its position, as then situate in the centre of the largest 
 diameter of tlie City, to lead to the conclusion that it was a milliary, like that in 
 the Forum at Rome, from whence all the distances were measured ; and as a 
 monument of this character it has always been considered. It is, however, now 
 knoAvu that the distances were not measured from the cent re of the city, but from 
 the ancient gates, " and that the Ililliariiim Aureum had a difi"erent use from 
 that once ascribed to it, that it w^as in fact a tabular index of roads and not a 
 mile-stone." * We know, hoAvever, that Londinium was the terminus of the 
 majority of the Iters comprised in the Antonine Itinerary, and that, therefore, the 
 mileage must have been reckoned from some given point. Taking, therefore, 
 into consideration the Roman practice of starting from the city gate, and at the 
 end of a line of road, and placing this western gate at Dowgate, the traditionary 
 
 • See Inquiry as to the original site of Roman Loudon, by Arthur Taylor, Esq. Arcbfeologia, vol. 
 xxxiii. p. 115. 
 
 /
 
 42 JRomcin Antiqiolties recenthj discovered on the site of the 
 
 position of Loudon Stone is true enough. Aud its tradition as a " mile-stone " 
 may be equally correct, and, as such, we may take it as being but another 
 limitary monument on the eastern bank of ^Valbrook. 
 
 A further interest attaches to this watercourse from the position it continued 
 to occupy with respect to the subsequent extension of the city. In all matters 
 relating to civic jurisdiction it appears to have formed a dividing line ; from the 
 city records we see that juries on important occasions were selected in equal 
 numbers from inhabitants on either side the stream, and in the earliest notice 
 ^\■hich has been preserved of the summoning of a Court of Common Council at 
 Guildhall, viz. that in 1347, there are twelve wards selected on the east and 
 eleven to represent the western side of "Walbrook. It appears indeed to have 
 been a second city which here grew up. In later days we see in Garlickhithe a 
 successor to the ancient landing-place at Billingsgate. "West Cheap arises in 
 distinction to East Cheap, and at "West Smithfield we find a companion to Smith- 
 field in the East. The river marks too, as we may see upon the map, certain of 
 the "Ward boundaries ; there are Dowgate, Walbrook, Broad Street, and Bishops- 
 gate Without, upon the eastern side, and a similar number, viz. Viutry, Cord- 
 wainer, Cheap, and Coleman Street upon the West. The possessions also of many 
 of the ancient city companies have their limits here. These guilds are of remote 
 antiquity, and may indeed date from Eoman times.* The properties of the inn- 
 holders, the dyers, the joiners, the skinners, tallow-chandlers, and cutlers, run 
 down to the western bank. With respect to the ancient wards which arc 
 connected with the extension of our city there appear to be evidences of a line of 
 demarcation between some of them which is of interest to our present investi- 
 gations. We have already referred to the traces which the excavations have 
 revealed of tributary streams from the west having fallen into the Walbrook in 
 the vicinity of Bucklcrsbury. The line taken by these, if more than one, is in the 
 absence of well authenticated discoveries difficult to lay down ; but it is the opinion 
 of my friend Alfred White, F.S.A., who lias kindly contributed the following 
 observations on the subject, that there was a watercourse along the line of Cheap- 
 side which had its exit iiito Walbrook at the eastern end of Bucklcrsbury. Mr. 
 White remarks, 
 
 " Besides the ancient division of the wards of London into those east and west 
 of Walln-ook, there seems to have been at one time a marked boundary along the 
 course of Chcapside, dividing the four wards of ]5rcad Street, Cordwaincr Street, 
 
 • See paper by II. C. Coote, F.S.A. on Onlin.ances of some Secular Guilds of London. Trans. Lnndon 
 and Middlesex Archmological Societij, vol. iv.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compani/'s premises. iS 
 
 Queenluthc, and A''intry from those on the north side of Chcapside, and Old 
 Change and Lambeth Hill (except a small portion at the north end near Cheap- 
 side, and at the sonth near Thames Street) form their -western limits. These wards 
 may therefore rong-hly be taken as defined by Walbrook on the east, the Thames 
 on the south, Old Change and Lambeth Ilill on the west, and Cheapside on the 
 north. The western boundary abuts on the precincts of St. Paul's cathedral and 
 those of Castle Baynard, or perhaps walls belonging to these two places. On the 
 south and east sides river-courses were the boundary of these wards, and it is 
 hoped to show that formerly a Avatercourse ran along the prescmt line of Chcap- 
 side, and fell into AVal brook at Bucklersbury east end. It was the opinion of 
 Sir C. Wren that a lloman causeway ran along the line south of Cheapside, and 
 that it was at the limit of the city during a part of the Roman occupation, and 
 our brook would have run on the north side of this causeway or road. We feel 
 that the generally received notion that Cheapside was at all times the site of a 
 great western market, as Eastcheap was that for the eastern part of the city, will 
 be against these views, but avc must remember that this is not supported l;y any 
 document which can be considered of great antiquity, and is not found perhaps 
 before the thirteenth century. Even the mention of Cheapside as a highway 
 does not go back to very early times. That this site in the eleventh century had 
 not the consistence of an average field is proved by the fact that in 1090, wlien 
 the roof of Bow church was blown off by a tempest, the rafters, which were 
 20 feet long, penetrated more than 20 feet into the soft soil of Cheapside. We 
 may therefore fairly infer that at this period nothing in the nature of a higln\ay 
 existed here. The strongest evidence of the existence of a watercourse in the line 
 of Cheapside we find in Maitland's Bistonj of London, vol. ii. p. 826 : 
 
 At Bread Street comer, the north-east end, in 1595, one Thomas Tomlinson, causing in the 
 High Street of Cheap a vault to be digged and made, there was found, at fifteen feet deep, a fair 
 pavement, like that ahovo ground, and at tlie furthei- end, at the cliannei, was found a tree sawed 
 into five steps, wliich was to step over some broolv running out of the west towards "Wallirook. 
 And upon the edge of the said brook, as it seemetli, tliere were found lying along the bodies of 
 two great trees, the ends whereof were then sawed off, and firm timber, as at tlie first when tlioy 
 fell Part of tlic said trees remain yet in the ground undigged. It was all forced ground until 
 they went past tlie trees aforesaid, wliich was about seventeen feet decji or better. Thus much 
 bath the gi'ound of this city (in that place) been raised from the main. And here it may be 
 observed, that within fourscore }-ears and less Cheapside was raised divers feet higher, for it was 
 found to be twenty-eight feet higher than it was when St. Paul's was first built, as ajjpeared by 
 several eminent marks discovered in the late laying of the foundation of that church." 
 
 /2
 
 44 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Thus we see that in this western. ])art of Cheapside a ruuning water falliug* 
 towards Walbrook existed at an early period, and if Ave proceed a short distance 
 eastward we shall find that at Honev Lane Market and Milk Street E.omau 
 pavements, &c. Avere found at a depth of 18 feet beloAV the surface on the north 
 side of Cheapside, and immediately to the south is Sir C. Wren's Eomau cause- 
 Avay, which Avas found at a depth of about 18 feet beloAV the present level, and on 
 Avhich stands the toAver of Boav church. EastAvard of this point early remains 
 have been found at about the same depth, especially opposite to Mercers' Hall. 
 On the south side of the Poultry the soft river bed is of such a depth that tAvo 
 series of vaults Averc constructed under one, if not more, of the recently-built 
 houses before the firm clay Avas reached, and the same character of soil exists to 
 the east end of Bucklersbury, by the course of Walbrook, AA^here a E-oman road 
 or causeway (probably a continuation of that by Bow church) appears to liave 
 crossed Walbrook and proceeded toAvards the east part of the city. West of Bread 
 Street the course of the brook is not known, and it may be doubtful if it struck 
 off northward Ijy about Gutter Lane, and so toAvards springs known to exist 
 near Cripplegatc, or if it came from farther Avestward by the Avard boundary, 
 Avhich runs near large springs aaIucIi supply the ancient baths in Bath Street, 
 north of Newgate Street, and behind the ncAv buildings of the Post-office, and 
 Avould carry off the abundant springs on that side of West Smithflcld. It Avill 
 be required to show, that at an early period (say about the tenth century) the 
 level of the adjoining portioii of the Avards of Cordwainer Street and Bread Street 
 ■were at a much higher level than the proposed brook or Avatercoursc. This is 
 readily done by the levels of the sills of the windoAvs of the crypt of Boav church, 
 and that Avhich existed under Gerrard's Hall. At the latter the soil had certainly 
 not been raised above a foot since the thirteenth century, and at Boav church not 
 more than one or two feet has been added since that crypt was constructed in the 
 eleventh centm-y. 
 
 It Avill be Avell to mention here that it is a gr(>at mistake to suppose (hat the 
 floors of tliese crypts Avere ever on the ground level, as some writers have assorted. 
 They Avere, like many otlier such buiklings in London and clscAvhere, always 
 crypts or undercrofts, and the top of the slope of the Avindow recess geuerally 
 shoAvs the original sill Avherc the ground level existed Avhen the crypt Avas con- 
 structed. We cannot determine the position of the pavement and Avindows of 
 the Iloman temple mentioned by Sir C. Wren as existing on llic site of Boav 
 clnirch. lie could not have taken the existing crypt as belonging to this jjeriod, 
 and it is very possible Ihal lln' wliolc structure was d(;stroyed to erect either the
 
 National Safe Deposit Company^ s premises. i-5 
 
 tower or vestibule which connects it Avith tlie church. These facts will show that 
 the great alteration in level lias been along the course of Cheapside, and on its 
 northern neighbourhood. 
 
 It is probable that the name of Wood Street, near the steps or bridge over 
 the brook at Bread Street, may ])e but a corruption of wad, a lord, and it 
 would appear that this was foruierly an important approach to London, and there 
 must have been here some means of crossing the brook, for we read that in 1010 
 the body of St. Edmund was Ijrought through Cripplegate to St. Paul's, and the 
 direct Avay A\ould be along Wood Street and over this ford. The affix of Bow to 
 the chvu'cli of St. Mary the Virgin likewise suggests to us the vicinity of a stream, 
 and of a way over it, not here by a ford but a bridge or bow. We need go but a 
 few miles to find a cliurch similarly named from an adjoining bridge, viz. St. Mary- 
 Ic-Bow at Stratford, by the river Lea. A tradition respecting Bow church in 
 Cheapside favours this vicAV, viz. that the lanterns on its tower Averc lighted at 
 night to direct the mariners from the north part of the city towards Garlickhithe, 
 and we think that such a help would be especially applicable where the site of a 
 bridge was to be hit. At York a similar tradition exists regarding the tower of 
 xUl Saints on the Pavement in that city, and this would be well placed to guide 
 the traveller to the Ouse bridge. Having brought together these reasons for 
 considering that the course of Cheapside was formerly at a low level, we are 
 bound to suggest the Avay in -which it was raised during the eleventh and twelfth 
 centuries, so as to become an important highway, where the standard, the cross, 
 and conduits were erected, and Avhich is after this period continually appearing 
 as the site of tournaments and other shows, and the frequent route for processions 
 through the city. WhercA'cr the soil of Cheapside, or the parts on its immediate 
 northern side, is disturbed, it is found to consist of made earth, and such 
 materials as would be supplied by destroyed buildings which had existed in otiier 
 parts of the city. In the latter part of the eleventh century, viz. in 1077, and 
 again in lOSG, very large portions of London w^ere destroyed by fire, and in 1090 
 GOO houses and many churches were throwii down by a tremendous hurricane. 
 This was followed two years afterwards by another fire, and in 1136 this city is 
 said to have been burnt from London Bridge to St. Clement Danes. These 
 calamities must have caused the removal of vast quantities of materials, which 
 would naturally be thrown into the lowest parts of the tOAvn, and we find the 
 course of Walbrook and the site of Cheapside raised many feet by such matter. 
 Another circumstance which favours our A'iews is the singular configuration ol" 
 the ward of Cheap. It presents evidence of having been introduced amongst, and
 
 46 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on, the site of the 
 
 at the expense of, the neighbouring wards. It does not display on any side a 
 straight boundary, or one which has the stamp of antiquity about it, whereas 
 it everywhere disturbs the apparent okl and direct limits of other wards. In docu- 
 ments of the thirteenth century, preserved among the archives at the Eecord 
 OflB.ce and also at Guildhall, this ward is called " Fori," and it is not until the 
 14th Edward III. (1340), that we find in a list of the wards at Guildhall that it 
 is designated " Chepe," but Pori is used again for a considerable period. The 
 application of this word to indicate Cheap Ward has led some antiquaries to 
 suppose that the Eoman Eorum occupied the site of Cheapside ; but it must 
 have been too far from the centre of the lloman city to have enjoyed that 
 distinction, and it is improbable that any such great public place could ever have 
 been here. It must not be supposed that we question the existence of a locality 
 called West Cheap, to distinguish it from East Cheap, for amongst the 
 early wills preserved in Guildhall Ave find that in 1258, 43 Hen. III., Eelica 
 de Colvere demised a quit-rent on premises in Yv^'est Cheap (Hustings Eoll 
 No. 2, mem. 2); and in 1271, 56 Hen. III., William Rychemund bequeaths pro- 
 perty situate in West Chepe (Hustings EoU No. 4, mem. 2). These two entries 
 show clearly that West Cheap did exist, and there can be no doubt that it was one 
 of the markets of London, certainly twenty-sis years before the list of wards Avas 
 compiled in 1284. The Ward of Cheap is mentioned in the City Records in 
 131 1, and in the taxation of 1339, but even then (being assessed at only 
 517/. 10.$.) it had not attained anything like the position of its neighbour, Cord- 
 wainer Street AVard, which is assessed at 2,195/. 3s. Ul. Eor these many reasons 
 we feel justified in concluding that gradually the l)ed ol' our ancient watercourse 
 became dry land, and that its site, with portions from the neighbouring wards, 
 became the Ward of Cheap. About the thirteenth century we know the cross 
 and conduit are said to have been erected, and from this ]ieriod tlie locality became 
 most important in the enlarged condition of London." 
 
 It would lie foreign to the purport of this (>ssay did we attem])t to pursue the 
 history of the above mentioned wards, or those liberties and districts which were 
 iiicliidcd in llic full development of the Eoman city. Its circumvallation is 
 usually ascriljcd to the reign of Constantino, with subsequent alterations and 
 completions by Thcodosius,* at the close of the fovirth century. Of this wall 
 but little remains ; it ])ursucd a course of which ample record has been preserved 
 
 • Instaurabat urbcs ct prtcsidiaria, castia, limitcsquc vigiliis ct prctcntuiis. Ainiiiiamis JIaictlliiius, 
 28, cop. 3.
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
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 g 
 
 
 
 r^ 
 
 2^ 
 
 >^ 
 
 f^ 
 
 .« 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^* 
 
 tf 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 rSS 
 
 t. 
 
 h
 
 National Safe Deposit Compain/s pre)nisets. 47 
 
 among the writings of mcditcval times, during -wliicli period its superstructure 
 must have often been rebuilt and repaired. Its route may be easily identified 
 upon our plan. It eommenced near the Tower, thence ran northward to the 
 east end of Leadenhall Street, bending towards the north-Avest, until reaching the 
 north end of Eishopsgate Street Within it ran westward by Cripplegate to 
 Aldcrsgatc, and thence to NcAvgate, continuing by Ludgate along the eastern 
 bank of tlie Fleet river to the Thames at Blackfriars ; there being probably 
 at Castle Baynard an external foi-t similar to that of the Tower in the east. 
 The existing fragments of this wall are occasionally disclosed ; they are few in 
 numbei", and each time they are uncovered they arc lessened in extent, from 
 the requisite alterations and requirements of modern buildings. The interest- 
 ing portion near Tower Uill was exposed a short time since ; it was a rem- 
 nant adjoining the piece figured by Mr. Roach Smith, E.S.A. from a drawing 
 made in the year 1852 by the late Mr. Fairholt, E.S.A. This appeared in the 
 Illiistratious of Roman. London, and Mr. Smith has kindly permitted tlie repe- 
 tition of the etching, which, in addition to its illustration of a particular frag- 
 ment, affords a general idea of such portions of the City "Wall as may be con- 
 sidered to be of Roman work. In his description of the plate Mr. Smith 
 remarks: "The wall was laid open to its foundation, which could be well 
 examined and understood. In the first place a trench was dug between two and 
 three feet deep. This trench was filled in or " puddled in," as it is termed, with 
 a bed of clay and flints. Upon this were laid boulders and concrete to about a 
 foot thick. The view represents the ground excavated somewhat deeper than the 
 foundation ; and the level of the ground before the excavation is shown in the 
 left-hand corner of the plate. Upon the foundation was placed a set-off" row of 
 large square stones ; upon them four layers of smaller stones, regularly and 
 neatly cut ; then a bonding course of three rows of red tiles, above which arc six 
 layers of stones, separated by a bonding course of tiles, as before, from a third 
 division of five layers of stones ; the bonding course of tiles above these is com- 
 posed of two rows of tiles, and, in like manner, the facing was carried to the top. 
 The tiles of the third row are red and yellow, and they extend through the entire 
 width of the wall, which is about ten feet, the height having been apparently 
 nearly thirty feet. The core of the wall is composed of rubble, cemented together 
 with concrete, in which lime predominates, as is usual in Roman mortar. 
 Pounded tile is also used in the mortar whicli cements the facing ; this gives it 
 that peculiar red hue which led FitzStephen to imagine the cement of the founda-
 
 4S 
 
 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 tion of the Tower to have been tempered with the Llood of beasts." The frag- 
 ment which has recently been exposed was about thirty feet long and fifteen feet 
 high, having bricks and tiles well placed, and intermingled with flints and 
 cement. At its southern end this adjoined a large piece which still exists in the 
 basement of Messrs. Barbers' Bonded Warehouses, near Trinity Square, and which 
 is probably the most interesting specimen of the old wall that now remains. 
 Under the guidance of Mr. Charles Otton I have had the opportunity of 
 inspecting it, and of tracing its course for upwards of a hundred feet as a 
 boundary wall to a portion of their cellarage. At the end of their south vault 
 there may yet be seen a typical specimen of the " facing," having the squared 
 stones and bonding tiles marvellously well defined. In the requisite alterations the 
 proprietors have appreciated these interesting features, and in the modern brick- 
 work which has been added there are occasional openings provided by which the 
 ancient wall can be readily identified. They have also studiously preserved one 
 of the small casements or recesses which existed in the medieval portion of the 
 wall. These are illustrated by the example figured in the accompanying illustra- 
 
 -X 
 
 1 
 
 7f7^ -Sifle t t East-Sirlr 
 
 'cii/e' Cni/nsf- }]■] ■ :■■ ■' 
 
 lA. 
 
 .T<prfRr. 
 
 xTall 
 
 Dmibli 
 
 J)rubltfilc Gnirsr A 
 
 Mrf/fr/i 
 Or/A///// 
 
 JJ/M/deiilf Cficrse 
 
 Dcnblc ble Criirnt, ^ 
 
 Drnlilf lilf fci/r-ir 
 
 J)r>/jNf 1/ lr Cri/r.ir 
 
 
 '■riTjr.'r-srrr-'^^"'"^'^--^''^^-^-"^Tr'^'^'^
 
 Ndtioiial Safe Deposit Caiijicniifs premises. 
 
 49 
 
 tion \vlucli appeared a lew years ag-o, wirli some ol)scrvations upon the City "Wall, 
 by Frederiek Wallen, Esq., in tlic Transaetions of our Society.* A portion of the 
 parapet or breast wall, as shown in the section, can still be traced. The wall has also 
 been disclosed near Vine Street, IMinories, within the present year, and large quanti- 
 ties of it destroyed. The interesting bastion known to exist in Cripplegate church- 
 yard has been fortunately preserved. A section, here illustrated from a sketch taken 
 by Mr. .1. P. Emslie, was recently uncovered in the Old 15ailcy, but is now effectually 
 
 iSi-S^i.--'-' 
 
 blocked in. It was evidently of Roman work, and a portion of the early wall 
 which here ran by St. ^lartin's church, direct from Ludgate to the Thames. 
 In the reign of Edward I. a large portion was pulled down, in order to make 
 room for the monastery at Blackfriars. In the charter granted for the purpose 
 the citizens are enjoined to erect a new wall to run from Ludgate Avestward 
 behind the houses in Eleet Ditch, and then south as far as the Thames, at the 
 head of which was to be built a Tower for the reception of the King. An 
 interesting fragment^ of this later structure is still to be seen in the passage 
 leading from the Broadway in Ludgate Hill. 
 
 As regards the course taken by any earlier ^vall no information caia be gained. 
 It is probable that one existed from the known practice of the Romans to thus 
 enclose their towns and cities, but discoveries Avhich have been made are insufficient 
 
 • Vol. iii. p. 32. 

 
 50 Homan Antiquities recently discovered on tlie site of the 
 
 to enable us to define its plan. Xo certain indications of its existence have been 
 oljserved east of AYalbrook, and westward all discoveries that arc made tend to in- 
 dicate the latter period of the Roman occupation. The villa residence of which the 
 tessellated pavement found in 1869 formed part was probably subiu"ban at the 
 time of its construction, as were those extensive buildings of which walls and 
 i:)avements were discovered in the vicinity of Huggin Lane, and in Wood Street 
 bv the corner of St. Michael's Church. In Foster Lane sewerage excavations 
 revealed a pavement and quantities of glass and pottery, and near to the 
 junction of St. Paul's churchyard with Cheapside a pavement was observed 
 at a depth of 18 feet, and connected with Roman walls. 
 
 The design was a rosette pattern in red, grey, white, yellow, and black tessellce ; 
 a hypocaust was below with its rows of tile-j)illars or columns averaging from 
 fifteen to twenty tiles in each column. Associated with the remains were coins 
 of Constans, Constantius, Magnentius, Decentius, and Valens, indicating that, 
 like the extensive pavement observed by Mr. Roach Smith * in Paternoster 
 Row, which was above an interment in a tile-tomb, it really l:)elonged to the 
 closing period of the occupation. The burials, also, which have been observed, 
 strikingly illustrate the gradual extension of the city. In Bow Lane, during the 
 autumn of 1839, a skeleton was discovered at the depth of 15 feet, lying north 
 and south in a kind of grave formed with the large drain-tiles placed edgewise. 
 In its mouth was a second-brass coin, so much corroded and defaced as to be 
 quite illegible. In Queen Street, in the course of excavations in the year 1812, 
 cineraiy urns of a rude style of art were found; in one of them the remains of 
 human bones adhered so firmly as to have the appearance of being part and 
 parcel of the vessel, for, as aa\is clicmically explained, the alkali in the bones, 
 doubtless deposited before they were allowed to cool, had united Avith the silcx in 
 the clay. Among the remains, when forcibly separated from the vessel, was 
 easily recognised a portion of the nasal bone. There were five of these jars, some 
 containing onlv mud and charcoal. There were also exhumed fraa-ments of 
 tessellated pavements, broken aiiiphorse, urns, mortaria, Samian pottery, boars' 
 tusks, and other relics ; also a second-brass coin of the Emjioror Nero. Still 
 further westward we note the discoveries made by Sir Christopher Wren on tlu> 
 site of St. Paul's cathedral, and which clearly indicate an extramural situation 
 devoted to sepulchral |)ni|)oscs. In his Parentnliahe remarks "Under the 
 graves of the later ages, in a row below llicm, ••■(.ic jhe burial-places of the 
 Saxon times. The Saxons, as it appeared, were accustomed to lino their graves 
 willi flialk stones, though soino mov(> emini'ut were (^ilombed in coniiis of whole 
 
 • Hcc Roach Smith's lUustralioiis of Roman London, p. 22 ct scq.
 
 National Safe Deposit Conipani/'s premises. 
 
 51 
 
 stones. BcloTV f hose were British graves, where were found ivory and Avoodcn 
 pins of a hard wood, seemingly hox, in abundance, of about six inches long. It 
 seems the bodies Avere only Avrapped up and pinned in woollen shrouds, which, 
 being consumed, the pins remained entire. In the same row, and deeper, were 
 Iloman urns intermixed. This was eighteen feet deep or more, and belonged to 
 the colony when the Romans and Britons lived and died togetlier." There is also 
 the well-known monument discovered by Sir Christopher when digging the founda- 
 tions of St. Martin's church at Ludgnte, and now preserved among the Arundel 
 ^Marbles at Oxford.* It is a sepulchral stone set up by Januaria Matriua to her 
 husband Vivius Marcianus, a soldier of the second legion, called Augusta. Next, 
 we notice the inscribed pedestal found behind the London Coffee House in 180G, and 
 
 ?,iiaCLMA 
 EN 
 
 '-.Ynif,? 
 
 
 now preserved in the Museum at Guildliall. The inscription is to the memory of 
 Claudia Martina, wife of Anencletus Provincialis, who died at the early age of nine- 
 
 • See Roach Smith's Collectanea Antiqua, Illustralions of Roman London, &c. 
 
 //2
 
 52 
 
 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of tlie 
 
 teen, and Avas buried Avliere the monumeut was erected ; and lastly, we have the 
 discovery, made but a few weeks since, of an oolitic sarcophagus on the eastern 
 bank of the Fleet river. This Avas found in the vicinity of Fleet Lane at a depth 
 of 12 feet from the surface. The position is marked upon our plan. Its 
 dimensions are 7 feet 9 inches long, 4 feet 1\ inches wide, and 3 feet deep. It 
 has, like similar tombs of Eoman date, been hewn from a solid block, and is of 
 the same description of rag-stone as other examples which have been recorded. 
 It contained when found the remains of a skeleton which had apparently been 
 buried in lime. The annexed illustration is from a photograph taken as it lay 
 
 in situ. Adjoining the tomb wore observed evidences of another interjncnt, with 
 fragments of pottery, &c. Its massive character and isolated position at this the 
 western limit of the lloman city, upon the very margin of the watercourse, can 
 only be explained by assuming it to be another illustration of the use of limitary 
 monuments. The marble tomb found at Clapton,* and \\w singidar interment ' 
 found at Bloomficld Street, Moorficlds, \\\\\\ Ihe sarcophagus to IIk^ memory of 
 Valerius Amandinus discovered at Westminster Abbey, f servo as examples of 
 
 • Sec Transactions of the London and Jiliddlcsc.e Archaioloyical Society for illustrative descriptions, by 
 J. E. Price, F.S.A , of both these monnmonts, vol. iii. The sarcophagus found near Fleet T^anc has 
 roci'ntly been preseiitid by Messrs. Fetter and (iiilpin, upon wluise property it was discovered, to the 
 Miiseuui of the Corporation iil (jiiili|li;ill. 
 
 ■f See (Jbscrvations on the iccently-diseovered Jionian Sejiulehre at We.-tnrnistn- AM'iy, 1 y llie late 
 W. U. lilack, F.S.A. — I'rans. London and Middlesex Arch. Soc. vol. iv.
 
 To fact' page f>7 . 
 
 MENIORIAE^VALER'AMAM^ 
 DlNlVALERl^SVPERVENt 
 
 TOR^ET^MARCELLVS'PATRI FE5f^!l 
 
 ROMAN SErULCmu: DISCOVEKKD AT WESTMINSTKK AISItKY.
 
 National Safe Dojjosit Conqxmy^s premises. 
 
 63 
 
 the practice, already rofi'rred to, of the occasional use of sepulchres by the agri- 
 mensors in their application of terminal marks. 
 
 The accompanying woodcut represents the space comprised in the recent exca- 
 vations. It forms a triangular site with a frontage to Queen Victoria Street, 
 Charlotte How, and Eucklersbury, and cbvering an area of G,600 feet. Across 
 
 the plan may be discerned the line pursued by the brook, \vhich, after running 
 beneath the church of St. Mildred, crossed the Poultry, passed Eucklersbury, 
 where formerly there was a bridge, and then, bearing to the west of St. Stephen 
 ATalbrook, made a considerable bend and crossed Budge Row near to its eastern 
 end. It is therefore apparent that a complete section of a portion of the ancient 
 watercourse has now been disclosed, and indeed the excavations have afforded 
 plentiful illustrations of the wooden piling placed along the line of the embank- 
 ment and the gradual slope therefrom to the extreme depth of the river bed. In 
 the conduct of the works trenches were first excavated for the foundations of 
 the massive external walls. These are respectively marked upon the map, and it 
 is from them .that the greater portion of the antiquities lias been collected. 
 
 In that parallel with Charlotte Row there appeared at a d(>pth of about 25 feet 
 from the surface-level a timber flooring supported by huge oak timbers 12 inches 
 X 12 square, and running parallel with the stream. This was at the south
 
 54 Bonian Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 corner, aud may have indicated a stage or landing-place at this portion of the 
 line. Adjoining this were evidences of a macadamised roadway, which extended 
 in a line with Bucklersbury until it reached the apparent course of the brook. 
 Upon the opj)osite side similar indications appeared and the remains possibly 
 indicate a roadway which here crossed the stream. It was in this trench that the 
 remains of the area and the perfect amphora were discovered. In the trench 
 parallel with Bucldersbury a seam of ballast Avas disclosed at a depth of 35 feet. 
 In this were quantities of wooden piles, many of which had been driven into the 
 clay prior to the silting up around them of tliis sand and shingle. The greatest 
 depth from Avhich these piles were drawn Avas upwards of 40 feet from the street- 
 level. Near to the spot marked F upon the plan the greatest number of the 
 antiquities were seen. Here appeared fragments of bricks, tiles, and other indi- 
 cations of buildings associated with a vast number of coins, pottery, and personal 
 objects both of iron and bronze. All bore evidences of fire : portions of metal 
 and glass Avere collected which by extreme heat had been fused and melted into 
 misshapen forms. At this spot there was also discovered a large quantity of 
 wheat. This, though retaining the form of the grain, was blackened, and mucli 
 of it completely carbonised by fire. In the trench A to B was observed a portion 
 of a coarse description of flooring composed of broken tiles made up with Iloman 
 concrete ; from its situation it apparently belonged to the buildings connected 
 with the tessellated pavement discovered some three years ago. The usual depth 
 at whicli (lie London clay appeared was about 30 feet; and, as much of this had 
 to be removed for the purpose of ensuring a good foundation, various objects 
 were exhumed l)clonging to a period long anterior to the civilization of Home. 
 Quantities of fossil wood, nodules of iron pyrites, and various fossil shells were 
 seen. Of the latter a few have been preserved as relics. They are described by 
 my friend Mr. F. G. II. Price, F.G.S. as being specimens of Fnsns hifasciatus. 
 Pyrula Smithii, Cryptodoii Goodhalli, Dentalimn anceps, and a variety of Fleu- 
 rotoma. 
 
 Of the vast number of antiquities which have been discovered the collection of 
 pottery is perhaps the most varied and abundant. As articles of universal 
 re'juiremcnt, fictile vessels are always plentiful among tlu) debris of places 
 which have been inhabited for a lejigthencd ])criod ; and the ciiorinous quantities 
 of broken vessels Avliich liave ]iow been found may be well explained l)y the con- 
 venience of llic l)rook as a receptacle for (lie fractured plates and dishes ordinarily 
 use'^ by the inlialntants of Iloman Lomlon. The familiar bright red potteiy 
 termed Samian is generally plenliful at excavations within i\w limits of the City ; 
 and in the collection now brought together it is douljtless possible to select sulU-
 
 National Safe Deposit Company'' s premises. 55 
 
 cient for the illustration of almost every forna of vessel that is knoAvn. In quality, 
 too, there is the same infinite variety and an indication oC the difTiculty -vyhich 
 there must ever he in assigning the manufacture of this particular class of ware 
 to any especial locality. "No (piestiou," writes jNfr. S. Birch, T.S.A.* "has excited 
 more controversy among antiquaries than the place where it was made: Samos, 
 Arctium, Eome, Modena, ancient Gaul, and Britain (into wliich it seems to have 
 heen imported) have heen supposed to he the sites of its manufacture." He quotes 
 also the passage in Pliny which refers to eight of the principal places noted for its 
 fahrication, and how among them Arrctium or Arezzo was famous for its dinner- 
 services, and Surrentum, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Naples, for its drinking 
 cups. Mr. Eoach Smith, P.S.A. has always been of the opinion that it was imported 
 into Britain, strengthening his belief upon the circumstance of potteries for 
 Samian ware having been found in France in the immediotc vicinity of the Rhine, 
 and on the numerous potters' names of Gaulish origin, which are identical with 
 many that have heen observed upon the ware discovered in this country. No 
 trace either of any pottery that can be assigned to its manufacture has been yet 
 recorded as having been found in Britain. The discoveries in the Upchurch 
 mai'shes by the banks of the Medway have sufficiently indicated the local manu- 
 facture of other descriptions of earthenware, and the researches of the late lilr. 
 Artis at Castor, near Peterborough, revealed the existence of potteries to the 
 extent of upwards of tAventy miles, which had once been employed in the ftvbrica- 
 tion of the characteristic Durobrivian ware ; but it does not appear that any 
 remains have been yet noticed that are sufficient to establish the conclusion that 
 the peculiar class of pottery before us is of native manufacture. On the other 
 hand it is difficult to believe that such a branch of industrial art should be so 
 neglected in a mixed community as that of the inhabitants of Roman Britain as 
 to render it necessary for the most fashionable ware in use to be imported 
 from abroad ; for avc iind the various trades and professions practised in Italy 
 flourishing in London, Wroxeter, Silchester, and other important cities of this 
 distant province of the empire. Artificers of all kinds and from every nation 
 must have been here and earned their livelihood, as now, IVom the exercise of 
 their craft ; the material was at hand, and experiment has proved that from the 
 clay beds of London such descriptions can be selected as are in every way 
 suitable for the production of this pottery. So extensively was it used, and so 
 varied is it in its form and character, that numerous reasons could be assigned 
 
 • Ancient Pottery and Porcelain, ii. 347. Plin)-, N. H. xxxv. 12 — 4G.
 
 56 Homaii Antiqii.ilies recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 for the belief that much of it at least may be attributed to the potters of Roman 
 Britain as to those at work in the moi*e remote factories in Gaul. 
 
 The finer descriptions possess certain peculiarities ; they are generally thin in 
 substance, hard and extremely brittle. The best variety has been compared to 
 " sealing wax," and is coatinl with a magnificent glaze, which appears to defy all 
 attempts at imitation. It is described by M. Bronguiart * as being produced by 
 silica rendered fusible by the introduction of an alkali, either potash or soda, and 
 colored by a metallic oxide which formed a part of the primitive paste. He 
 considers also that the vessels may have been dipped into a slij) which held this 
 substance in suspension. This was probably the case, because examples occasion- 
 ally aj)pear where the glazing is not uniform and a portion of the vessel has 
 escaped the coating. We have two or three specimens, in the present collection 
 where the vessel has been only glazed upon one side, and a portion of the 
 liquid has splashed or run over upon the other. It may be observed upon the 
 inside of some of the Etruscan vases. There are several specimens also of the 
 finer ware which will well repay examination. They resemble more than any 
 other the jjottery which is usually assigned to the ancient factories at Aretium in 
 Italy. The ornamentation and design are veiy similar, and it is probable that 
 this locality provided the copies from which much of our Samian ware has been 
 derived. Pliny tells us how in his day Samian pottery was esteemed, and at the 
 same time refers to the high standard of that provided by Aretium. f Mr. Thomas 
 Wright, F.S.A.+ observes, that Isidore of Seville, writing at the end of the sixtli 
 century, refers to the red pottery of Arezzo, and also to Samian wai'e, expressing 
 a doubt as to the locality which produced the latter, so that it was probably made 
 under that name in different parts of Roman Europe. 
 
 The brittle character of this pottery was sufficiently proverbial to call for an 
 illustration by Plautus in his })lay of MentGclin\us.§ One of the individuals in 
 requesting another to be cautious when knocking at the door is met with the 
 rejoinder, " I fancy you are afraid that the doors are made of Samian Avarv>." 
 
 M. I'liK'ido ])ult:i. /'. Mctiiis, credo, iic lores Samiic sint. 
 
 And again in the Bacchidcs || of this writer, in reference to a female l)i)ru at 
 
 * Traile (Ics Artcn Ce'ramiques, tonic i. p. 5-1.'^. 
 f Sec Pliny, X. II. xxxv. c. 4G. 
 
 I The Celt, RomitH, and Saxon, p. 210. Sec also Fiilironi's work, Storia (h'jii Antichi Vimnfiltili Arftini, 
 for illiistrationH of tins pottery. 
 
 § Mciuechmus, Act i. Bccne 2. 1| Bacchidcs, Act ii. scene 5.
 
 National Safe Deposit Comjyany's j)re7nises. 57 
 
 Samos, one of the characters is made to say, " Pray take heed that no one handle 
 her without care, for thou know(>st that a Samian vessel is quickly hrokcn." 
 
 Vide qiurso, no ([uis tractet ilium iiulilii;cns ; 
 Scis tu, lit conf'ringi vas cito iSainium solet. 
 
 Some descriptions arc much more hrittle than others, and it is no uncommon 
 thing to ihid pieces which have been mended by rivets and metal clasps. This at 
 least indicates the high value once set upon this ware and the estimation in 
 which a favourite vessel was held by the possessor. In the present collection 
 are several illustrations of these rivets ; many arc models of neatness while others 
 are especially rude and clumsy in their form. In one instance which, as far as 
 we know, is unique the rivet has been worked over upon its inner surface with a 
 metallic substance which gives it an appearance similar to our electro-gilding. 
 It is an interesting example of the antiquity of the present fashionable practice 
 of metal plating. 
 
 Plautus* speaks of the use of Samian vases in religious ceremonies, and Cicero f 
 repeats that the simjmvia and cajjedines of the priests were of the same ware; but 
 under the Empire this seems to have been discontinued. Juvenal remarks upon 
 the Ptomans not using silver at their tables, but taking their meals from the 
 earthemvarc of Arezzo : 
 
 Argeiiti quod crat solis fulgchat in armis. 
 
 Poncbant ieitur Tusco farrata catino. — Sat. xi. 108 — 111. 
 
 Pashions, however, in this respect appear to have varied ; at some periods we 
 find tlic use of earthenware to have been in vogue witli the aristocracy, at others, 
 says the satirist, its use was a reproach. " Pictilibus cocnasse pudct," says 
 Juvenal, writing of the days of Domitian. At Rome, he says, a man is ashamed 
 to dine off earthenware, which he will make no scruple about if you set him down 
 amons: the hardv Marsians and Sabines.i In the life of Claudius we read that 
 Yiuius, who dined Avith him one day, stole a silver cup ; the emperor invited him 
 for the next day, but ordered earthenware to be set before him instead of plate. ^ 
 In later times the use of fictile vessels for eating and drinking appears to have 
 become universal, and we find them distributed in profusion among all the 
 European provinces of the Empire. 
 
 In the annexed examples we have illustrations of prevailing forms, and in 
 
 • Cap. ii. 114. t •L'c ^'''- *^^ *-'''• "'■ ^^- t Satire iii. 105 et seq. 
 
 § Tacitus, H. i. 48, and Suetonius, Claud. 32, remark that the cup stolen was of gold. 
 
 h
 
 58 Soman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 the collection tliere are specimens more or less broken of each variety, but 
 sufficient in every case to indicate the forms of the original. Of the respective 
 sizes of these vessels it is but necessary to remark that they are of all dimensions, 
 varying from a diameter of 2 inches only by 1 in depth to a width of from 
 10 to 11 inches. Figs. 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 are the most uncommon. Every 
 illustration of fig. 4 which we possess has the peculiarity of being glazed, but on 
 one side only, while with the others the glaze is uniformly spread over the entire 
 vessel. Fig. 11 is extremely rare. The more usual designs are figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 
 9, and 12, and on these there generally appear the potters' names stamped in the 
 inside on a label across the bottom. The formvila of the inscription diifers. 
 Sometimes the name is put in the nominative case and followed by f or fe for 
 fecit, made ; in other cases, perhaps the most common, the name is given in the 
 genitive case, and is accompanied by o or of for officina, from the w'orkshop, or M 
 or MA for inauu, by the hand, cither before or after the name.* A very large 
 number of such names have been now collected, and many of them have not yet 
 been attentively examined ; but in the list hereafter appended will be observed 
 several additions to those already published by former writers. Of fig. 10 v/e 
 have some interesting fragments. The mouth of a lion's head usually serves as a 
 spout, and the inside of the vessel is studded with siliceous particles for the 
 purposes of trituration. Fig. 12, of which we possess half a vessel, has a flattened 
 rim, and is thus of a novel form. It is impressed with the letters albvc. f. The 
 ornamented vessels form the most interesting division of this pottery, for, pi'ofuse 
 as is its distribution, it seldom happens that we meet witli duplicate examples 
 precisely similar in form or detail. There is always a novelty about the disposi- 
 tion of the beautiful scrolls and foliated patterns which might well receive such 
 attention from our decorative artists as is now devoted by modern jewellers to 
 antique types. Of the figured ware the prevailing forms are bowl-shaped, 
 upright, or when not quite perpendicular gradually expanding towards the top. 
 Of each variety w^e arc enal)lod to give illustrations, those figui-ed in Plates 
 I. II. III. being selected from the most perfect of the specimens now found ; 
 besides these there is a large quantity of fragments which will well repay atten- 
 tion. Many of the designs arc merely fanciful, but others are taken from the 
 stores of lieathen mythology. Uuntiug scenes are prevalent, and indicate tlic 
 love of the old Uomans for the excitement of the cliase. Animals and birds, 
 interspersed with representations of the fruit and loliage of tlic vine, arc ol'len 
 
 • Sec Uriconium, by Thonius Wright, F.S.A., p. 224 ; lUnstrations of J'lu/tan Loiidan; iiml I':i|i( is In 
 thu Journal of the Brilish ArchcBolof/iccU Association, \i>\. iv. by C Hniicli Smilli, I''.S.A.
 
 Kkj 1. 
 
 Fig. 
 
 l''ii!. :!. 
 
 Fig. i. 
 
 Fig. 5. 
 
 Fic. li. 
 
 Fig. 7. 
 
 Fig. 8. 
 
 Kic. 11 
 
 Fig. 10. 
 
 KlG. 11. 
 
 KiG. 12. 
 
 RED GLAZKI) Tl ) TTEUY.
 
 National Safe Deposit Company's jyrernises. 
 
 50 
 
 seen ; and illustrations of the sports aud combats of the arena are among tlie 
 most favourcHl of the sul)jocts which are introduced. On a fragment of one of the 
 upright bowls we have the closing scene depicted of a gladiatorial light. In this 
 case the figures are distinct, and not seen together as they often are. The victor 
 is armed with a curved sword, has his shield uplifted, and is prepared to strike. 
 The other figure, similarly armed, is kneeling, and imploring mercy at the hands 
 of the spectators ; for those who wished his death would turn their thumbs towards 
 their breasts, as a signal to his opponent to stab him ; otliors, who would spare his 
 life, turned their thumbs downwards, as a signal for dropping the sword.* Another 
 fragment of a similar bowl bears upon it the subject shown by the annexed cut. 
 It appears as a variety of the well-known illustration of that particular loi'in of 
 combat practised by the retiarius and secutor of ancient times. Pigurcs of musi- 
 cians ai"e favourite subjects, and ai'c well represented in the collection. On some 
 fragments we observe a votary of Bacchus or Cybele in the act of clashing the 
 cymbals : on the other appear well-drawn figures, seated in a chair, aud engaged 
 in the occupation of playing upon the lyre. 
 
 As an example of the selection of subjects from the fables of ancient days, we 
 append one of a novel character. It happens to be very roughly executed on 
 tills particular piece of pottery, but it is suflBcient for identification. It clearly 
 indicates the seventh fable of iEsop, viz. that of the wolf and the crane. AVc 
 have also two other fragments which call for special notice ; one is most uncommon, 
 if not unique. It portrays a performer attired like a juggler of modern times. 
 He is in the act of skipping, for the object he holds by both hands can hardly 
 represent anything else but a rope. In the other illustration we see something 
 equally curious. The two figures do not resemble combatants, but appear to be 
 
 » See Juvenal, iii. 36, Comvientar;/, by J. B. Mayor, 1872, p. IS. 
 
 h 2
 
 60 
 
 Soman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 occupied in some description of game ; each seems to hold in his hand a disc or 
 plate, apparently for the purpose of catching an ohject thrown into the air. The 
 details of this are rongh and so hadly done that at first sight it might seem 
 to indicate only the uplifted arm of the right-hand figure ; hut, if so, the pro- 
 portion would be altogether wrong. And, as the subject is repeated on other 
 fragments, and in every case the object appears sharply defined, as apart from the 
 figure, it may indicate a pastime somcAvhat analogous to our battledore and 
 shuttlecock. 
 
 Our next figure is that of a description of Samian which is extremely rare ; 
 and out of even our immense collection of pieces there are but one or two frag- 
 ments of this particular class. It is of similar 
 material to the other, and the glaze is the same, 
 but the ornamentation has been effected by incised 
 lines. Xo perfect example has yet been found in 
 London, but such arc met Avith on the continent. 
 In the museum of the Corporation of London at 
 Guildhall tlicre arc some excellent specimens which 
 came from Cologne. They were forni(>rly in Mr. 
 Gunston's collection. Fig. 1, Plate I., represents 
 one of the more perfect vases of ciiibossed pottery. It is a vessel 9} inches in 
 diameter and 4^ inches deep. It is tastefully decorated with scrolls of foliage sur- 
 mounted by an engine- turned pattern. Its chief interest is in the form and position 
 of the leaden rivet, which is present, and here shown in the illusl ration. The 
 other example, fig. 2, is more perfect, is slightly larger, and of a lighter description 
 of ware. Tlie design is a fanciful one ; there are representations of l)irds, and a 
 good illusti-ation of the Roman eagle. In Plate II. we have two most interest- 
 ing specimens. On fig. 1 may be discerned one of lli(> most jjopulai- stories of 
 heathen mythology, viz. the suckling of Homulus and Ilemus by tlie wolf. The 
 subject, relieved by fanciful scrolls, is repeated all round the bowl, and is shown
 
 National Safe Deposit Companifs premises. 
 
 Gl 
 
 of the actual size in the accompauying woodcut. 
 Upon coins and mouals of the Uxtc lloman Em- 
 perors this subjeethas frequently been observed, but 
 it docs not appear tliat its iUustration is at all 
 familiar upon lloman pottery. Its appearance in 
 sculpture is rare ; but it has been found as the 
 chief ornament to a mosaic floor discovered near 
 Aldboroug'h Hall, and which has been well de- 
 scribed and illustrated bv ^Ir. II. Ecrovd Smith in 
 a supplement attached to his lieliquioe Isurianai. 
 
 The story is too well known to need repetition, but its treatment deserves some 
 consideration. AA'e learn from Ovid's Fasti* that a bird assisted in the daily- 
 provision of food for the sustenance of the infant twins — 
 
 Lacte quis infantes nescit crcvisse ferino 
 
 Ex Picum exposltis sa;pc tuUissc cibos. 
 
 An illustration of this bird may be observed in various compartments situate 
 just above the figure of the wolf, and worked into the design which decorates the 
 main body of the bowl. The figure of this bird so strikingly accords with that 
 upon the plaque of copper bronze found at Moorfields, and formerly in Mr. Roach 
 Smith's Collection, that we have repeated the illustration of the latter for the 
 pm-pose of comparison. 
 
 * Ovid's Fasti, lib. iii. 1. .53.
 
 62 
 
 JRommi Antiqtdties recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 This piece of metal is cngraTed actual size. It was thus shaped by stamping, and 
 afterwards finished by rude chasing and frosted with a punch, and has been appa- 
 rently affixed to wood. In this object the story is more than usually illustrated 
 by the introduction of the fig-tree— the ruminajicus, thus alluded to by Ovid : 
 
 Arbor qrat, remanent vestigia ; quseque vocatur 
 Piumina nunc ficus, Romula ficus erat. 
 
 Venit ad expositos (mirum) lupa foeta gemellos. 
 
 * * * # 
 
 Constitit et cauda teneris blanditur alumnis 
 Et finglt lingua corpora bina sua.* 
 
 The similarity between the two birds is at once apparent, and their situation 
 indicates a like meaning and intention. This bird, the Piciis of Ovid, may be 
 considered as a meml)er of the woodjiecker family. The story is, that Picus, 
 a fabled King of Latium, celebrated for his beauty, was met by Circe, in the 
 woods of Monte Circello, when she became greatly enamoured of him. Mortified 
 at her advances being treated with disdain, she brought her magical arts to bear 
 upon the scornful monarch, who was summarily converted into a woodpecker. 
 
 Mr. H. E. Smith, to whom I am indebted for the use of the above woodcut, 
 also kindlv lends the following illustrations of coins. One is a Greek colonial 
 piece strack in the reign of Elagabalus, and found at Jerusalem; the others 
 are two reverses of small coins of Constantine. 
 
 Small Brass. 
 
 CONSTANTINUS MAGNUS. 
 
 Large Bras-s. 
 
 EI-ACiAUALUS. 
 
 (Found at Jciusulem.) 
 
 Siimll liriiss. 
 CONSTANTINUS MAGNUS. 
 
 * Thus rendcrcMl liy .lolin Gower, M.A., Lonilon, IfilO: — 
 
 " A fig-tn.'u stood, flic stuiiiii vciiiaiiis tjiis day, 
 Then Rumnia, Imt now called Rounilti. 
 To these poor barns (bairns) there conies a she-wolf wilil. 
 
 • • « • 
 
 She stands and fawns uipun tlic nmldling twins, 
 And with her tongue licks o'lr their tender .sldn.s."
 
 National Safe Dc})os'd Compani/s jy^emiscs. G3 
 
 The bowl, Avliich measures 10 inches iu diameter by 1^ inches deep, has a label 
 across the bottom with the potter's name, makinvs ' f. 
 
 Fig. 2 is also a vessel of red glazed wave and of similar dimensions to the above. 
 The desii;'n is a conventional pattern dividing- certain compartments from each 
 other, in which are depicted hnnting scenes. In one we see the dogs iu full 
 pm-suit of a stag, in another they are chasing rabbits or hares, and, as a central 
 subject, may be observed one of the latter apparently caught by the talons of an 
 (>agle. This is of unusual interest from the fact of the position of the hare. It 
 is well known that, like the potters' names, many of these figures were attach(>d 
 to the vessel by the aid of stamps kept ready to hand and of certain prescribed 
 patterns or designs, and that consequently their application would often depend 
 on the humour or fancy of the workman employed, who at times might use his 
 stamp so carelessly as to put in the figures in a reversed position. In Mr. 
 "Wright's work on Uriconium he repeats the illustration of a Avcll-known fragment 
 of pottery on which this very subject of the eagle and the hare is forcibly depicted. 
 The hare, as now, is iu a reversed position, and it is quoted as an instance of the 
 carelessness referred to ; but it is a strange coincidence that we should again meet 
 Avith a repetition of the error. It is true that in the fragment the two figures are 
 distinct, but the attitude of the hare is one of terror or of death. In our own 
 illustration it is apparent that the mould or stamp which produced both eagle 
 and iiare is one and the same, and the latter appears as having been caught by, 
 and struggling with, the talons of the eagle. This is probably the true meaning 
 of the figure, and it is worthy of note that among the classic fables of antiquity 
 there is one descriptive of a hare pursued by an eagle resorting to the nest of a 
 hornet. The eagle repulsed the hornet and destroyed the hare. This explanation 
 also harmonizes with the other subjects : the dogs ai"e hunting the stag ; in 
 another compartment they are chasing hares or rabbits ; in that in question the 
 eagle has caught the hare. The potter's name upon this bowl is of • modesti. 
 
 In plate 3 the central figure is that of an upright bowl G inches in diameter 
 and 5 inches high. It is nearly perfect, and of a fine description of ware. The 
 taste and elegance of the ornamental scrolls are seen portrayed in the illustration. 
 The other figures are also of interest, but do not call for any special comment. 
 Of imitations of Samian pottery we have interesting specimens : there are 
 examples of that peculiar ware which is full of shining metallic particles, and 
 which is ornamented with the festoon and tassel mouldini? and other fisjures so 
 familiar on the Samian. 
 
 There are also examples upon which the ornament has been painted. The 
 figure is laid on in white and is intended to imitate the well-known lotos-
 
 G4 
 
 Boman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 leaf ornament. There is a curious fragment of black pottery, a portion of a largo 
 vessel formed upon the same model as the shallow red plates or patercc. It 
 possesses a brilliant glaze, and is identical with the Samian ware in all but the 
 colour. It may serve as an illustration to the patella of Martial, who humor- 
 ously refers to " eating a green cabbage on a black plate." 
 
 Nigra cauliculus virens patella. V. 78, 1. 7. 
 The potters' names already referred to may be arranged as follows : 
 
 ALBAXI. 
 ALBTCI. 
 ALISCO . 0. 
 OF . AQTITA. 
 OFIC . BEICAT. 
 BKA CISILLO. 
 BELINICI . M. 
 BVCCVS. 
 OF . BASSI . CO. 
 OFIC . BILICAT. 
 CAMBVS . F. 
 CARETEDO . FE. 
 CRACVN. 
 CKESTI . 0. 
 OF . CRESTIO. 
 CALLI . M. 
 OF . CALYI. 
 CEREALIS. 
 CES.STILI . M. 
 FORTIONIS. 
 OF . FIXCIS.* 
 GABRILLI . M. 
 GERMN.t 
 GEMANSCI. 
 
 GEMINI. 
 HABILIS. 
 ITCTKDI. 
 LAVRI . 0. 
 LOGIENI. 
 OF . LICINAA. 
 OF . LTCCEI. 
 LENTT . F. 
 LALLI . MA. 
 OF . LICINITS. 
 MARTIALIS. 
 MASCVLVS . F. 
 OF . MASCV. 
 MICCTONI . M. 
 MASCILTS . F. 
 OF . MVRRA. 
 MAI;iNV.S . F. 
 METTI . M. 
 NOTIO. 
 OF NIGRI. 
 ONATOS. 
 POXE. 
 OF PVDEN. 
 OF PONTI. 
 
 M. 
 
 PASSIENI. 
 
 PRIMYLI. 
 
 PATEI. 
 
 OF . PASSEM 
 
 QTIINTII 0. 
 
 RYFINVS. 
 
 REGINTS. 
 
 ROPPI . EVI 
 
 EYTA . FE. 
 
 OF RVFIN. 
 
 SENICI . O. 
 
 SILYIXI . F. 
 
 SITICYLA . F. 
 
 OF . SEYERI. 
 
 SECYNDI. 
 
 SYA DVLLIVS. 
 
 SYOBM. 
 
 SEDATYS. 
 
 OF ■ SECT. 
 
 TITYRONIS- 
 
 TASCILIYS. 
 
 TERTIVS. 
 
 SA . VILLI . M. 
 
 Plato IV. comprises illustrations of light grey pottery, with two broad-moutliod 
 urns of the well-known UpcJiurcli ware. Of this class wo have l)ut few pci-fect 
 .spoclraens. There are, however, (juaiitities of fragmciits. jNIany of them are 
 ornamented in simple patterns, worked in i)lain or zigzag lines, with small raised 
 projections like spots upon the surface. Among them arc designs of a novel 
 
 • For Felicia. 
 
 t For Gcrtnanus.
 
 National Safe JDeposit Compam/s iwemises. 
 
 G5 
 
 character, and ixpon one fragment there appears the name Gemi • of. This pro- 
 hahly is intended for Gemini, so frequently met with upon the Samian Avare. 
 There is also a frag-ment of lig-ht-colourcd ware of an unusual kind : upon this 
 tlierc is likewise inscrihed the name of the maker, Manertvs, a name new to the 
 puhlished lists. The large amphora has heen already referred to. It resemhles 
 the globular vessel discovered near Lothhury, and figured by Mr. Smith, also one 
 which was found near Aldcrmanbury, and is now preserved in the Museum ot 
 Practical Geology in Jermyn Street. Such A'essels were for the storage of oil or 
 wine, and were fretpu'ntly of large dimensions. The other specimens figured are 
 of forms adapted to household use, and are of types usually met with upon Roman 
 sites. Before leaving the subject of pottery, we may briefly refer to the mor- 
 taria, of which several examples have been seen. These Avere cooking vessels, 
 and they are invaribly made from a light-coloured clay, and dispersed across the 
 inner surface is a mixture of pounded tile with siliceous particles for the purpose 
 of resisting the wearing effects of trituration. 
 
 The example figured measures IC^ inches in diameter by 4^ inches deep. It 
 docs not appear to be inscribed with the potter's name, an addition so frequently 
 observed upon those vessels which are known to have been found in London. 
 Of lamps in clay or tcrra-cotta we have no examples worthy of illustration. 
 There are one or two fractured specimens, but they require no special description. 
 We figure, however, two curious examples of clay moulds which have been 
 
 employed in the fal)rication of such lamps. These are of extreme rarity, and, 
 with the exception of the lamp actually discovered in the kiln found by Conyers 
 
 i
 
 66 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 in St. Paul's cliiirebyard,* these moulds are the most important evidence we have 
 as to the home manufacture of svich matters. Though not belonging to the same 
 mould, the illustrations represent both an upper and lower portion. The latter, 
 which is the larger of the two, measures Gj laches long by 5 inches wide ; the 
 other is smaller and broken ; its width, however, is 4 inches only, and when 
 perfect probably measured about 6 inches long. In one case we have illustrations 
 of the mortices, and in the other the tenons are well defined, thereby indicatiug 
 the manner in which such moulds were used. Both have evidently been for 
 lamjis of large size and of a character superior to those usually met with in city 
 excavations. There is one example of an earthen lamp-stand ; it is of black 
 ware, and resembles similar objects formerly in the E-oach Smith collection. In 
 addition to clay stands the Homans employed an apparatus of metal for the 
 suspension of these lamps. Mr. Smith possessed a specimen discovered at 
 Nismes. It consisted of chain-work with a stand at the lower extremity, and at 
 the upper an iron fastening, which may serve either as a nail or hook. In this 
 collection there is a good illustration of an iron lamp-stand. This is figured in 
 Plate XI. and is a most perfect specimen. Its height is 9 inches, and the stand 
 itself is but 3 inches long. It is so constructed as to be moveable and turned 
 round if necessity required without having to remove tlie hook from its position 
 on a nail, spike, or other fastening from which it was suspended. Such metal 
 stands are very rare. A few examples with handles, and formed of lead, have 
 been discovered at York. 
 
 The annexed illustration is of two earthenware objects, whicli arc alik(> 
 uncommon. They are each about 3 inches in diameter and rather more tlian 
 2 inches deep : each has a small raised socket in the centre. They are, probably, 
 candlesticks, and secui to be admirably adapted to the purpose. That candles 
 \v( re not uiiknoAvn to the liomans lias been clearly shown by Thomas Wright, 
 P.S.A., ill iiis researches at Uriconium ; and in his work he illustrates an 
 
 • In tlic year 1C75. Sec 81oanu MStf. British Museum, 958, fol. 105.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compaiiij'is premises. 07 
 
 example discovered in a Roman lead mine at Shelve Ilill. In addition to this 
 there is the testimony of Juvenal, ^vllo extols the ceoiioniy of the poor man 
 endeavoming to be satisfied with his candle and moderate its wick.* 
 
 JIo, qiiiiin hina solct deducere, vol breve liiincn 
 Candcltc, cujus dispenso ct tcmpcro lilum, 
 Contempnit. 
 
 Such candles were made of wax, pitch, or tallow, and rushes employed as wicks ; 
 the forerunners in fact of the rush-lights of our time. Iron candlesticks have 
 been found at "\A'roxeter; and in the Gentleman's Magazine for March 1867 
 appears a description by Mr. Smith of an example preserved in the museum at 
 Andover. This he compares with a three-footed candelabrum discovered in Bel- 
 gium on the site of a lloman villa at Petit Fresin, and published in a recent 
 Bulletin of the Commissions lloyales d'Arf et iVArchceolo(jia' of Belgium. In this 
 specimen the cup-shaped portion, in Avhich the cundela was fixed, strikingly 
 accords with our earthenware example. 
 
 Plate V. comprises illustrations of a large number of little implements of iron 
 or steel familiarly known as sfyli. This series is but a portion of a large number, 
 and in the selection there may be recognised some highly ornamented forms. 
 They arc frequently foimd in city excavations, their preservation being due to the 
 peculiar character of the soil : in dry sandy situations they would soon perish. 
 They are rarely met with in our provincial museums. At Colchester, a place 
 where Roman remains are abundant, they are seldom seen, and those that have 
 been collected are so worn and perished by oxidation that they are comparatively 
 worthless, whereas in many of those obtained from London we find the rich 
 character of the ornamentation remaining, and the small metal Imnds with which 
 many ai'e inlaid as fresh and bright as at the time of their fabrication, Thci'C is 
 endless variety as to size and form, and of those figured but few will be observed 
 of similar patterns to any of the large number illustrated by Mr. Roach Smith in 
 his lloman London. These objects, as is well known, were employed for writing 
 purposes, but that only of a certain kind : small tablets of wood termed lahcllo} 
 or pwjillores were coated wdth a thin layer of wax or similar substance. The 
 point of the stylus would serve for writing upon this prepared surface, and the 
 broad flat end be used for smoothing the wax when making erasures or correc- 
 tions. The tablets were of diminutive size, being adapted for carrying about 
 the person. They were affixed together by strings or wires, and were in 
 
 • Satire iii. 280. 
 
 J2
 
 68 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 reality the note or memorandum books of the time. Some very interesting- 
 examples were found in the pit on the site of the Eoyal Exchaug-e, and 
 are now preserved in the museum at Guildhall. On some of these the marks 
 may still be seen of the cords whicli bound them together. The stylus was not 
 necessarily of iron ; sometimes it was made of the precious metals. It could 
 easily be used as a weapon, and it was with his graphimn that Caesar stabbed 
 Cassius in the arm when attacked by his miu'dercrs ; and it is said that Caligula 
 employed an individual to assassinate a senator^ with the same description of 
 instrument. In the reign of Claudius women and boys were searched to ascertain 
 whether there were styli concealed in their graphiaria theccB, or pen-cases.* It is 
 said by Montfau9ont that the practice of converting these objects into weapons 
 becoming so general the material of ^hich tliey were made was changed by 
 authority from bronze or iron to wood or bone. Of the latter we possess a single 
 example ; it is broken, but is of similar form to the metal specimen. 
 
 In Plate VI. we figure a specimen of the Roman pugio, or dagger. This 
 weapon was shorter than the legionary sword, and was openly worn upon the 
 right side ; move particularly by officers in the army and individuals of rank. 
 The blade was broad, ribbed down the centre, two-edged, and terminating in a 
 sharp point. This example measures 10 inches long, and has a wooden handle 
 which is in remarkal)ly good preservation. This handle measures 3 inches in 
 length, and has evidently terminated in some description of ornament, which has 
 unfortunately perished. Tliere is a striking resemblance between this weajjou 
 and the bronze daggers which have been found in Ireland and other places. 
 
 Tlie other objects figured are a selection of knives; these have not been 
 observed in any considerable quantity, but those we are enabled to illustrate are 
 all remarkably good specimens. There is uothing unusual in their form, and 
 they are probably such as were in daily use. Those witli rings attached, evidently 
 for the purpose of suspension, were probably for carrying about, while the others 
 Avere more particularly connected with the household. Eor the IbniKM' purpose 
 fig. 1 is admirably suited; it has two rings, the loAver one of iron and llic upjier 
 one of bronze. Its entire length is !) inches. Pig. ',\ is curious, it is inches 
 long and with its broad blade bears some resemblance to tlie knives used l)y the 
 Iloinan Imtcliers. Tliere are two or three excellent examples oi" this forni. We 
 also figure two specimens with l)onc liandles. One possesses the ring for suspen- 
 sion, it is quite jilain; the other is mon; richly ornamented, but is of a form 
 
 • Sec Byor's Pompeii, p. 535. ^ /bitiquite expliqiie'c, loin iii. Purl 2, p. 'Xu.
 
 National Safe Deposit Company' s premises. G9 
 
 that is often met with. Such knives are referred to by the classic writers. In 
 the eleventh satire of Juvenal there occurs a passage thus quaintly rendered by 
 
 llolyday : 
 
 With care 
 
 I shun a proud guest then, that does compare 
 Me with himself, and scorns small means; so free 
 Am I, I'rom but an inch of ivory. 
 In chess-boanl or chess-man, of simple bone 
 Are my knife handles. 
 
 Plate 7. In this illustration we have some fine examples of Eoman keys ; they 
 are of actual size, and interesting types. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are of iron, and from 
 the hole or eye at the end of each were all clearly intended for suspension, and 
 were probably carried by the owner hanging from the girdle. Fig. 1 with the 
 projecting teeth bears some resemblance to the clacis Lacoiiica* a particular form 
 of key applied to the inside of a door by a person standing loithout, who put his 
 arm through an aperture made expressly for the purpose, and then raised the 
 latch by means of the projecting portion of the key. Fig. 4 is a key of a superior 
 class ; it is of iron with the exception of the handle, which is of bronze, and in 
 excellent preservation. In figs. 5 and 6 we see an illustration of the Pioman 
 latch-keys, and both are of no uncommon types. Among the discoveries made 
 by Mr. Taylor at Colchester was a key like fig. 6, eight inches long, this also had 
 a hook at one end for suspension. Similar specimens have been found at Hartlip, 
 Wroxeter, and also at Cilurnum, in the north of Britain. Fig. 7 is a bolt belong- 
 ing to the Roman lock. The manner in which it was used is difiicult to describe ; 
 but examples resembling this specimen in form have been found at Colchester in 
 connection with other portions of the locks, and are preserved in the interesting 
 collection of antiquities in the possession of Mr. George Joslin. Our specimen is 
 apparently of lead, but it is very hard, and jiossibly of a mixed metal. 
 
 Plates 8, 9, and 10 represent a miscellaneous collection chiefly composed of 
 brooches, personal ornaments, and toilette implements. The series of filmlce 
 resemble others which are recorded as having been found within the city, and 
 present no unusual characteristics. They are, with the exception of fig. 9, which 
 is of iron, all made of bronze, and the most part of the bow-shaped form. Fig. 3 
 has been richly ornamented Avith blue enamel, and is one of the rarer forms. 
 The greater number of the specimens are in good preservation, and in many 
 instances the pin, which, moving on a hinge, illustrates the principle of the 
 
 • Rich's Companion to the Latin Dictionary, p. 174.
 
 70 
 
 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 modern safety piu, retains its action as a spring. The fig'ure of the animal 
 indicated by fig-. 10 is well executed. It is inlaid with a blue enamel, and is an 
 interesting object of its class. There is also a broken specimen of a bracelet or 
 armilla. It is in two pieces, the twisted portion is moveable, and was probably 
 for the purpose of adjusting it for wear. The small seal in the corner is curious, 
 and has a forcible resemblance to the inscribed seals which until recently were so 
 universally worn. The stone is plain, but the mode of twisting the wire and the 
 ornament below alike bespeak its origin. The two bronze boxes or lockets are 
 interesting ; both objects are shown of actual size ; the circular one has been orna- 
 mented by a simple pattern chased upon the lid, but the other has been beautifully 
 enriched by a blue enamel inserted between broad brass ribs or bands. In this 
 appear circular ornaments haA'ing a radiating pattern in figures of white and black. 
 
 These objects, Mhich are found heart-shaped, circular, 
 and square, remind us of our modern vinaigrettes, and 
 they are considered by Mr, Smith to have been used for 
 perfumes, and to have been Avorn or carried upon the 
 person.* Mr. Thomas Layton, F.S.A. of Kew Bridge, 
 possesses one of the circular pattern which was found near Bucklersbury ; it 
 is shown in the above cut. Upon the lid is the figure of an eagle displayed, 
 
 and the three small apertures in the base would seem to 
 indicate a use for scent or perfume. Fig. 1 on Plate IX. 
 is an example of the colsella or tweezers generally used 
 for plucking out hair by the roots. They are frequently 
 found, and were probably necessary adjuncts to the 
 toUet. They are sometimes met with associated Avitli 
 an ear-pick and nail-cleaner, as in the exam])le figured, 
 and which is now in the collection of my friend Mr. 
 F. G. 11. Price, F.G.S. The specimen is of the same 
 mixed metal of which such objects are usually composed. 
 The fops of Boman times also used depilatories inade 
 up in the form ol' resinous plasters. Figs. 2, 1, 5, 7, 8, 
 9, 10, illustrate the diminutive bronze spoons termed 
 liyula. It is presumed that they also appertain to the 
 toilet, and Avcre employed for extracting unguents or 
 prepared oils from tlie long-necked vessels so generally 
 
 • Bee Illustratiotts of Roman London, [>. 129. 
 Mr. F. O. H. Price, F.G.S. 
 
 The cnaiiiclK'd siiCc-illli'll is imw in liir collccliuli of
 
 National Sitfc Deposit Company'' s 2'>i'emiscs. 71 
 
 known as " tcav-bottlcs." Many of these objects in this collection are richly 
 ornamented. They also are of bronze, and most of them when found were of 
 a brig-ht gold colour. They all afforded indications of having been acted 
 upon by lire. Fig. G shows an ear-pick, and 11 and 15 are bronze pins, and 
 probably examples of the aeiis crinalis or hair-pin ordinarily used by women 
 for passing through their back hair after it had been plaited or turned up. 
 A large variety of such have been found in London, and at Pompeii numbers of 
 fanciful patterns and designs, which may be seen figured in the Miiseo 
 BorJjonico, ix. 15. 
 
 Figs. 16 and 17 are bronze egg-spoons, or examples of the cochlear. This 
 object has a bowl at one end, and at the other a sharp point. They were not 
 only employed in eating eggs, but for cockles, periwinkles, snails, and for ex- 
 tracting fish from the shell. Their use is thus identified by Martial : — 
 
 Sum cochleis habilis sed nee minus utilis ovis, 
 Numquid scis potius eur cochleare voccr.* 
 
 They are often found of bone, and occasionally of silver ; of the latter metal a 
 specimen is figured by Mr. Roach Smith in his Antiquities of Richhorough, Recul- 
 ver, and Lymne. In connection with this particular class of spoon there were 
 superstitions among the Romans which have left traces of their existence to the 
 present time. In some country places after eating eggs it is customary to pierce 
 the shell as a protection against witchcraft. Sir Thomas Browne writes that the 
 intent was, •' lest witches should draw or prick their names thereon, and vene- 
 ficiously mischief their persons, they broke the shell." This custom singularly 
 accords with Pliny, who says that to avoid being spell-bound by means of evil 
 imprecations there was a practice, after eating snails or eggs, to immediately 
 break the shells or pierce them with a spoon. f Figs. 1 and 7 on Plate X. arc 
 objects which require explanation. The first is of bronze, with rings at the 
 end for suspension to the girdle. The other is of iron, and has also a loop 
 for a similar purpose ; both have been termed spatula;, but this is not satis- 
 factory. The small ring in the flat portion of the iron specimen is against 
 such an application. Upon this jjlate are also figured examples of bronze 
 chain-work which are of elegant patterns and design. Fig. 11 is of especial 
 
 • Epigram, lib. xiv. 51. 
 
 f Pliny, N. H., book 28. See also Brand's Popular Antiquities, iii. 19.
 
 72 
 
 Homan Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 interest; the arrangement of tlie links is sucli as is frequently seen in the 
 chain-work attached to our modern chandeliers, and which has been thought 
 to he an invention of the present day. These objects are all shown of the actual 
 
 size. As a further illustration of chain-work we may 
 here refer to the iron manacle figured on Plate XI. 
 which is drawn to a scale of about two-thirds the size 
 of the original. But a small portion of the chain itself 
 is indicated, the entire object measuring nearly 4 feet in 
 length. The mode of adapting the circular portion to 
 the wrist of the individual is at once apparent, and, when fixed, it would bear a 
 striking resemblance to an example which, copied from a Eoman bas-relief, is 
 figured by Mr. E,ich in his Companion to the Latin Dictionary. In this exceed- 
 ingly useful work there is also reference to an ancient chain now preserved as a 
 sacred relic in the Church of S. Pietro in Vinculis at Pome, and which gave its 
 title to the Church, for it is there said to be the identical one with which St. Peter 
 was chained in the Tulllamim or Servian prison. In this object the portion for 
 fastening to the wrist or ankle bears a great resemblance to the specimen now 
 found. 
 
 Plate XII. The coins here selected for illustration are from a number of nearly 
 seventy specimens, the majority of which arc in good preservation. Tliey all 
 belong to what is known as the best period of Roman history, and to some extent 
 they afford an indication of the age to Avhich these recent discoveries l)elong. One 
 of the most important uses to which coins can be applied when the circum- 
 stances of their discoveiy on a particular site is beyond question is in ajjproxi- 
 raating dates. Of this series we have nothing later than the reign of Antoniiuis 
 Pius ; to this period, ranging from the time of Claudius, the chronological 
 sequence is imbroken ; and this abrupt cessation is sufficient for the assump- 
 tion that our site formed part of the first Homan settlemcjit, and that most 
 of the relics found at the extreme depth of the excavations arc as early as 
 t lie close of the second century of our era. Coins also are frequently of great 
 interest in their illustration of portraiture or costume. Among those figured 
 may be traced the characteristic features of Claudius, Nero, Domitian, and 
 Hadrian, which have been so vividly described by their classic biograplicrs. The 
 coin of Antonia, daughter of Antony the triumvir and wife of Drusus, presents a 
 dignified portrait : on tlie reverse lier figure appears as a priestess ; and on a 
 bfautiful example which \\c have ol' the macellnm of Nero there is well depicted
 
 Nationctl Safe Deposit Company^ s premises. 73 
 
 the form of the market-iilace at Rome. AVitli few exceptions the coins are 
 all of tlic size known as sccond-hrass and most of tliom of copper; some arc 
 of that bright light-coloured metal which in circulation was of double value. The 
 ciitu-c sci'ies has been submitted to my friend Mr. Roach Smith for examina- 
 tion ; he tells me that they are all of well-known types, and with characteristic 
 kiudiu>ss has been good enough to arrange them in the following order for pub- 
 lication. 
 
 The illustrative [)late has been fac-similed in litliography from the accurate 
 drawings of Mr. John G. Waller. 
 
 AgUIPPA. B.C. 13 to B.C. 9. 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 S. C. Xeptunc standing. 
 
 Claudius, ad. 41 to a.d. 54. 
 Reverses. 
 
 S. C. Pallas. CERES AVGVSTA— LIBEltTAS AVGVSTA. 
 
 Antonia. 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 TI . CLAVDIUS CAICSAU . p. M. TR. P. IMP. Fig. 13. 
 
 Germanicus. 
 Reverse. 
 
 SIGNIS RECEPT . DEVICTIS GERM. 
 
 Xero. A.d. 50 to A.D. 68. 
 Reverses. 
 
 VICTORIA AVGV.STI . S. C. Fig. 8. — GENIO AVGVSTI. Fig. 7. — SECVRITAS AVG. Fig. 9.— M.\C 
 
 AVG. tlie Macelliim or Market-plaee at Rome. Fig. H. — Victory with globe. Fig. 6. 
 
 Vespasian, a.d. 69 to a.d. 79. 
 
 Reverses. 
 
 .sixviMTAS AVGVSTI — AKi^iviTAS AVG.— Victory with globe. — fides pvblica — PROVIDE^ r . 
 
 s. c. — .An altar. Fig. 12. — An eagle on a globe S. c. Fig. 14. 
 
 Do.MlTIAN. A.D. 79 to A.D. 96. 
 
 Reverses. 
 
 MONETA AVGVSTI. — FORT UNA AVGVSTI. Fig. 10. 
 
 Nerva. A.d. 96 to a.d. 98. 
 i.MP. XERVA caes . AVG . GERM .P.P. Fig. 3. See copy. 
 
 k
 
 74 Jtomcuh Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Trajan, a.d. 98 to a.p. 117. 
 
 Reverses. 
 
 Senatus Populus Que Romanus. Fort. Red. Seated figure with cornucopia. 
 
 S P Q R . OPTIMO PKINCIPI. 
 
 Hadrian, a.d. 117 to a.d. 138. 
 
 Reverses. 
 
 Type of Abundance (large brass). Type of Hope (large brass). 
 
 MONETA avgvsti . sc. Fig. 2. — Salus. See copy. — cos iii Ti (Vivtuti) avgvsti. 
 
 Antoninus Pius. a.d. 138 to a.d. 161. 
 LIBEKTAS . PM . TR . POT. Fortune with rudder and horn. 
 
 There is also a silver consular coin of the Postumia family : obverse, Head of 
 Diana; reverse, A • post • a • f • albin, a priest about to sacrifice a bull; a denarius 
 of Vespasian, trie • pot, and a like coin of Trajan having- on its reverse a figure 
 of Victory on the prow of a galley (fig. 1) ; a small coin of Nero, pontif • max • 
 1 R ■ p • liip • p • p, and of the same emperor, the obverse side of a lai'ge brass. 
 This coin has been cut in two and affixed to something as an ornament. There 
 is a hole in the centre through which the rivet or other fastening was passed. 
 Mr. Smith reminds me that in the Inreutorium SepHlchr(de* there is an illustra- 
 tion of a copper coin of Nero as so attached to an iron fragment of horse-gear. 
 This was discovered in one of the Saxon graves examined by the late Rev. Bryan 
 Faussett at Gilton Town in Kent. The coin is similar to our example : both 
 represent the head of the emperor laureated on one side, with the legend, imp . 
 XKHO • CLAUDIUS ' CAESAR " AVG " GERM * Eoman coins wcrc frequently appro- 
 priated as ornaments in Saxon times. 
 
 Of miscellaneous objects there is a large collection : for example, fragments of 
 glass, wooden spindles used in spinning wool or fiax, portions of horse-gcar> 
 hinges, clench-bolts, chisels, and a large variety of tools and implements of iron, 
 the use of which it is impossible to explain, and their application can only be 
 determined by the recognition 1)y ol)scrvcrs of some particular class of instru- 
 ment used in the profession or trade with Avhifli th(\v may ha])pen to be 
 acquainted. ^lauy such tools as are used by the artificers of our time are pro- 
 bably of remote antiquity That some among various branches of trade were 
 followed in much the same manner as they now are is evidenced by the loather- 
 Avork that has been found. The practical details of shoemaking, for ('xani])l(', 
 
 • Inventorium Sfp'ilchrak, ]i. '27.
 
 National Safe Dejioait Conqmni/'s jjremises. 
 
 lO 
 
 can have changed hut little- we have "heels," " soles," and " upptMs," of similar 
 form to those now worn. AVo observe also the same distinction as to rights and 
 lefts, and many of the shoes that have been discovered have a wonderfully modern 
 aspect as regards their general appearance. The most interesting variety is the 
 crepida or sandal ; this is formed of two or three distinct layers of leather of 
 the size of the sole with another between sufficiently large to be turned up on 
 either side, and then slashed or stamped in various ornamental patterns. The 
 respective layers werc^ held together by large nails firmly clenched npon the 
 inside and without any appearances of stitching. In other specimens, however, 
 we observe that the soles have been attached to the uppers by the latter process. 
 The heads of the nails are often very large, and the sole is to be seen completely 
 studded with them. In the ornamented sides there were eyes or loops to enable 
 them to be tied across the instep by means of strings or cords. There are likewise 
 some fragmentary specimens which more resemble the calUja or military shoe : 
 these served as a protection to the feet, and the sole was generally covered with 
 the large round or oblong heads of the nails by which it was attached to the 
 upper leather. Juvenal refers to such nails. He warns the people not to dis- 
 pute with the military, as, if kicked, as he humorously adds, an individual has but 
 two legs, as exposed to thousands of shoe-nails.* In the annexed cut we illus- 
 
 trate a highlv ornamental sandal which has been found. It differs from anv 
 figured by Mr. Uoach Smith, who was the first to fully illustrate these singular 
 relics. The stamped-out pattern, relieved by a small circular ornament, is 
 extremely elegant, and many of the small a^isce, or eyes, through which passed the 
 fastening strap {amentum), are well preserved. The other cut is of a shoe of quite 
 another form. It is apparently intended to cover the entire foot, and will illus- 
 trate the colcetis, a shoe or boot which, as now, was made upon a last. On either 
 side are lappets for fastening across the instep by means of strings. An example 
 from a Pompeian painting, figured by Mr. Rich, is remarkal)ly like our illustration. 
 
 * Satire xvi. 1. 
 
 k 2 
 
 •22.
 
 \ 
 
 76 
 
 JRomaii Antiquities recently discovered on the site uf the 
 
 "We liave also some specimens rcmaininc? of the tliougs or laces. In one case 
 tliere is one tied in a knot, just as left by the wearer more thau fifteen centuries 
 
 ago. 
 
 Another object of interest is a large c|ucrn, or millstone. It is the upper jjor- 
 tion, and measures 21 i inches in diameter by about 7 inches high. It lias on 
 either side the aperture, or hopper, two holes in Avhich iron handles would ho 
 
 placed when using. Such would be worked I)y two persons who J'aceil eacli ot.her^ 
 both grasping the handles, while the one witli tlic right liand disengaged would 
 throw in the corn into the hole in the upper stoiu'. 'riic inalerial ofwhidi this 
 (lucrn is formed is lava, j)l('util'ul in llic neighbourhood of the JMiine, wlieic liic 
 material is quarried for th(H'a])rication of millstones to llic ])r(>sent time. They 
 an,' frequently found on Konian sites, and in Loiulon many examples have been 
 recovered. At ToAver Hill, Bishopsgatc Street,* Triuces Street, AVat ling St hmM, 
 
 • There arc specimens from this locality jireseivnl in (lir Musoiini of Aiitii|iiitios iit (iiiililliiill. TImv 
 an; of volcanic stone, flat, very thin in sniistanco, niul rcsi^nilili! two kIducs in the Riitish I\lii.si.'uiii, \\lii( li
 
 National Safe Deposit Company'' s premises. 77 
 
 and St. ]^rartiii's.le-Graiul good specimens have been I'ound. Yaryii)y in iorni, 
 size, and tlie (jnality of stone, tliey are mostly of the same character as tliosc so 
 frequently referred to by the authors of antiquity. In Holy Scripture references 
 to their use aboimd.* Severe as must have been tlic labour, it appears to have 
 l)een usually eouducted by Avonicn or by slaves. Samson was put to grind corn 
 in the prison-bouse — 
 
 To grind in brazen fetters under task. 
 
 Eyeless at Uaza, at tlic mill with slaves. — IMiLTON. 
 
 So, too, did the Hebrews duriii- their captivity in Egypt and Babylon. The 
 grinders are said to have p(;rformcd their labours in the morning, grinding a 
 supply for the day, and sitting behind their mills, it was the same in CJreeee in 
 the time of Homer, who employs tifty females in the house of Alcinous in this 
 sevvice.t In Arabia and the Holy Land they are still in use, and travellers tell 
 us that in Philistia it is customary to hear the hum of the hand-mill at every 
 village and Arab camp morning and evening, and often deep into the night. The 
 Romans possessed in addition corn-mills turned by mules and asses. Some oi' 
 these, discovered among the remains at Pompeii, are not less than feet high.t 
 Mr. Iloach Smith ligures one found at Orleans,^ and they may be seen on bas- 
 reliefs and other monuments. That however in ordinary use was the riiula 
 manuaria. Plautus is said to have ol^tained a livelihood by working for a l)akor 
 at a hand-mill, and to have composed three of his comedies while so employed. 
 The custom of parcliing the grain before grinding, which has extended into later 
 times, is mentioned by Virgil in the Georgics, book i. 267. 
 
 Nunc torretu ignl frugcs, nunc frangite saxo. 
 
 There have been also found in these excavations two or three specimens of 
 fir-cones, which, excluded from the air, have retained their form and character 
 sufficiently for identification. Similar objects have frequently been found among 
 
 were found together near the river lircaniish, and adjacent to an ancient liill-fiirt at rniiidwick ainniiy tlic 
 Cheviot hills; of this tyiie there is a small one about 8 inches in diameter which was found at Colchester, 
 and the top stone of a quern discovered at Dumno, near 8t. Amlrew's, (Scotland. This is flat, of schistose 
 stone, and a good deal worn away at the edge. 
 
 • Matthew, xxiv. 41 ; .Judges, xvi. 21 ; Lamentations, v. 13; Exodus, xi. 5; Isaiah, xlvii. 2; Revela- 
 tions, xviii. 22. 
 
 t Dyer's Pompeii, p. 357. 
 
 J Dyer's Pompeii, p. ZhG. 
 
 § Collectanea Antiqua, vol. iv. p. 26.
 
 78 Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the 
 
 Roman remains, but the mere mention of the circumstance has hitherto been all 
 the attention they have received. In the Catalogue of Antiquities discovered on 
 the site of the Royal Exchange, the finding of some few specimens is recorded, 
 but no explanation of their presence has been attempted. One of our finest 
 specimens was so perfect when found, and the seed-vessels so well preserved, that 
 we submitted it to the inspection of Mr. Richard Kippist, Librarian to the 
 Linnean Society, who at once recognised it as the fruit of the pimts pinea, or 
 stone pine ; and in an illustration of this tree, which occurs in the large work 
 published in 1803 by A. B. Lambert, F.R.S., the seed-vessels which are figured 
 are identical with those of our present specimen. In his description we read that 
 the cones are large, nearly ovate, and often four and a half inches long ; that the 
 nuts are hard and contain kernels which have the sweetness of almonds ; and that 
 a pleasant oil may be obtained by expression. The species is one principally cul- 
 tivated on account of its foliage and the excellence of its fruit, which last is still 
 an article of sale in England, and may be procured in several of our London fruit 
 shops. This tree is said to have been introduced into England in the year 15i8, 
 and that it would flower in a London climate towards the latter end of May or 
 beginning of June. We see however, from the frequent discovery of these niits, 
 that their use in this country has extended from Roman times, and that the exist- 
 ing practice of using the kernels in our kitchens on account of their flavouring 
 properties is a relic of antiquity. In Mr. Coote's interesting paper. On the 
 Cuisine Bonrcjeoise of Ancient Rome,* he cites various passages from ancient 
 authors descriptive of these nuts. As sauce for boiled fish Apicius recommends 
 popper, lovage, cummin, ciboule (or button onion), marjoram, pine niiffi, dates, 
 honey, vinegar, &c. As a relish Avith " roast boar " roasted pine nuts arc included 
 with other matters for a sauce ; with " boiled pig " too this Soyer of the time 
 includes pine nuts in his recipe — with many other references to their use. The 
 presence, therefore, among the remains of Romano-British homes of these sin- 
 gular objects may be easily understood. 
 
 With this brief reference to a large number of miscellaneous relics it becomes 
 necessary to close these observations ; and in so doing I would express the grati- 
 fication I have experienced in having the opportunity aiforded for watching the 
 excavations from the commencement. There can be no question but that much 
 has been oveilooked, and tliat, had circumstances permitted, a more accurate in- 
 vestigation would liavc been of value and importance. With the rapidity wiili 
 
 • Archacolorjia, vol. xli.
 
 National Safe Deposit Compaiii/'s 2y>'emises. 79 
 
 which such a larj^-c quantity of earth has to be excavated and removed, and the 
 dangers consequent on delay, there must naturally he a large number of objects 
 which escape detection, besides those which find their way to other hands. 
 Such are conditions which must ever exist unless an excavation in the city be 
 undertaken soleli/ on antiquarian grounds. This has never yet been done. We 
 iustitute researches abroad, sometimes on doulitful sites, and critically examine 
 every shovel-full of earth, often with no certain prospect of reward ; but in a 
 comparatively small space situate at home, and illustrative alike of the origin 
 and progressive growth of this the chief city of the empire, sufficient interest has 
 never yet been manifested to induce a properly organised investigation of any 
 given site. If in the small area occupied by the premises of the National Saf(; 
 Deposit Company it has been possible to bring together so many illustrations of 
 the early occupation of our city, who can say what yet remains beneath the 
 surface of adjacent sites to corroborate or correct ojjinions which have been 
 expressed both by past and present writers on the history of Eoman London ? 
 
 Westminster: Printed by Nichols and Sons, 25, Parliament Street.
 
 Plate 1 
 
 Kg. I 
 
 Fig. 2. 
 
 RED GLAZED POTTERY.
 
 Tyyo Uurds ofojcbtat size, . 
 
 J f>BHSLlS,OtL 
 
 .' CM!,ue A -30W5, l/W, WMDOff. 
 
 Red glazed Pottery.
 
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 Red Glazed Pottery
 
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 Knives and Pugio " or DAGGER 
 
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 KEYS AND Lock-bolt. 
 
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 Spoons , ToiLETre Implements . &c.
 
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 Chains, styu , pins , &c.
 
 JPBnsUe^f: 
 
 Three auartav or' acnutl' su^c . 
 
 J Ernslui & 5ons ,hth., ZonAm- 
 
 Iron manacle. 
 
 Iron lamp-stand
 
 J G WALLIft Dti 
 
 J r%l*L'C 1. 50**^, LI?N , l(.'SDOH 
 
 Roman Coins
 
 ^
 
 Yv. 
 
 VlT'-^V^ Ca,^ 
 
 9-
 
 
 
 
 
 DATE DUE J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED INU S A. 
 
 ^
 
 PK 
 
 m?^r:.: 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 D 001 032 483 8