Surrey Archaeological Collections/Volume 1/Memoranda relative to the same subject
MEMORANDA RELATIVE TO THE SAME SUBJECT.
By Mr. E. J. LANCE.
REMARKS ON THE ROMAN ROAD FROM SILCHESTER (VINDONUM) IN HANTS, TO EGHAM (PONTES) IN SURREY.
On the south-east of the ancient city of Silchester (whose walled inclosure may now be seen), at a distance of about fifteen miles, are the sites of two Roman encampments, as if for legions; viz., near Alresford, at Bram-dean, there remain three large rooms of a Roman villa; at Parnham there is another camp; and lastly, near Crondall, the pavement of a villa. Near this may be seen two intrenched sites, probably for Roman cohorts, as outposts to the legion; and the large encampment on the hill has recently been purchased by Government, as a situation for a permanent camp for British troops. This is now partially occupied by Sappers in the surveying department, and forms the boundary between Surrey and Hants.
At about seven miles on the Roman road from Silchester there are the remains of another intrenched camp, near Easthampstead, in Berkshire (see the map), as if for a legion. This is near the Sandhurst Military College, and also near the ground lately given by the lord of the manor for the erection of a college in honour of the Duke of Wellington. On the south of this point there is a large barrow, 50 yards in diameter and 12 feet high; from this spot the legion sites of Parnham and Easthampstead might have been seen.
Proceeding onwards to the passage of the Thames, and near the south-west corner of Windsor Park, is a spot where the statue of a Roman gladiator was discovered a few years ago, and now may be seen at Mr. Waterer's American Nursery at Bagshot. A Roman stone near Silchester may be seen, and another near Finchampstead, that are presumed to have marked the measurement of stadia.
The black line on the side of the Roman road as mapped, denotes the situations where the aggeres or mounds may be found of the original site.
With respect to the geology of the Roman road, it may be remarked that Silchester is situated on the "plastic-clay formation;" the stone debris on the surface of which has been picked up about the inclosure, for not a flint-stone can be found for some distance around. The walls of the old city are built with flint, grouted with lime and sand, and bonded in a herringbone manner, with an oolite stone at every three feet in height. The road passes across Strathfieldsaye Park, over the "London clay formation," and there soon reaches the extensive range of the "Bagshot sands," occupied principally by native heath (erica), much of which is in the same wild nature as when the Romans were here 1,600 years ago. On this formation the road continues its undulatory and elevated direct course for many miles, bending only at "Duke's Hill," near Bagshot, until the vale of the Thames is reached, when a small part of the "London clay formation" is again passed near Egham.
Roman coins, pottery, and fragments of Roman tiles, have been discovered in various parts of this line, and are in the hands of Mr. Barton, tenant of Silchester Inclosure; a good collection of gold, silver, and copper coin, may be seen, with also spear-heads, bucklers, and horse-gear, picked up at various periods. The site of the Roman bath, with a lead pipe (not soldered), also the remains of the amphitheatre, may be well traced by the mounds of earth; and many other earthworks may be also perceived.
Silchester is reached by railway, and is about six miles from Basingstoke.