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XII. Observations on Roman Remains recently found in London: in a Letter from Charles Roach Smith, Esq. F.S.A. to John Gage Rokewode, Esq. F.R.S. Director

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2012

Charles Roach Smith Esq.
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Extract

After the lapse of some few years, I resume the subject of discoveries of Roman remains in London. Since the spring of 1836 (when I first had the honour of submitting the result of my exertions to the notice of the Society) there has been little or no intermission to excavations carried on throughout the City for what is termed “City Improvements,” and for sewerage, all of which have been more or less productive in furnishing means for throwing light on the state of London and its inhabitants in a remote and interesting period of their history.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , 1841 , pp. 145 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1841

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References

page 146 note a See Archaeologia, vol. XXVII.; Woodward's Letter to Wren; Stow; and Maitland.

page 146 note b Mr. R Kelsey, of the Sewers' Office, informs me, that a few years since some Roman remains were met with at Holborn Hill, at the depth of eighteen feet. They consisted of an earthen urn, filled with burnt bones, and a large quantity of broken pottery, of a pale red kind, inclosed in an oaken case, measuring two feet nine inches square. A most extensive excavation has been lately made in this district, in the line of the Fleet Ditch, which might have been turned to advantage for further evidence with regard to the disputed antiquity of the entrance to London by the present line of road from Holborn to Newgate Street, but I failed in gaining from the Court of Common Council, access to the works.

page 147 note c See Gent. Mag. Oct. 1837.

page 147 note d Survey of England.

page 147 note e Letter to Wren, 1711.

page 148 note f See Sir W. Dugdale's History of Embanking, p. 65; Bagford's Letter to Hearne, in the Lelandi Collectanea, vol.i. p. 58; and, in illustration of recent discoveries, Mr. Gwilt's Collection, and a paper by Mr. Corner in vol. XXV. of the Archaeologia.

page 149 note g Archaeologia, vol. XXVI.

page 152 note h Now in the possession of John Newman, Esq. F.S.A.

page 153 note g It may be mentioned that an immense number of human skulls were found throughout this street.

page 153 note h Ovid. Fasti, Lib. ii. 1. 411, &c.

page 153 note i See Artis's “Durobrivæ Identified.”

page 155 note k Now in the British Museum.

page 156 note l It is so seldom that I have witnessed, during my researches in London, either in public bodies or in private individuals, any disposition to encourage or tolerate antiquarian investigation, that an instance of an intelligent and conservative spirit deserves especial notice. I therefore make honourable mention of Mr. John Shelton, who very promptly gave notice of the discovery of this pavement, and was thus instrumental in saving it.

page 157 note l Gale, Com. Ant. Iter. p. 89, and Maitland, Hist. Lond. p. 12. It is probable that both the wall in Bush Lane, and the remains adjoining in Scot's Yard, were noticed on this occasion. The wall mentioned by Gale, “miræ crassitudinis et firmitatis,” seems identical with the former; the tessellated pavements, and other vestigia of houses, are evidently connected with the latter.

page 158 note m Other readings will doubtless suggest themselves; the PR may perhaps with equal propriety stand for Præes or Procurator.

page 159 note n This spelling of the word Londinium is probably a corruption. See Burton, Com. Ant. Iter. p. 163.

page 159 note o Dion Cassius, Lib. LX. Sec. 20.

page 166 note n A specimen of this extremely rare coin, found at Colchester, forms the subject of a dissertation hy Ashby, in the Archaeologia, vol. III. p. 165. It reads, Neptunp Circens. Constit … Another, reading Neptuno Circens. Restitut. is to be found in Eckhel, vol. vi. p. 406.