Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/331

Rh a temple of Janus existing in his time at this place, and, as far as may be ascertained from engraved representations, on comparing the present appearance of the ruins of the temple of Janus at Rome, with the remains of this building at Leicester, there exists a certain degree of similarity which is very striking.

The fragment of Roman masonry at Wroxeter, Salop, consists of a wall faced with ashlar or cut stone, with six intervening rows of Roman bricks laid horizontally, as bonding-courses, at intervals, in the following manner: first ten courses of stone, then two of brick; then eight of stone, then two of brick; then six of stone, and two of brick; six more of stone, and two of brick; and six more of stone, and two of brick; cemented together with strong mortar: this also is, I think, the portion of some structure, and not merely the fragment of a wall. It is however deserving of a minute examination.

The specimens of Roman masonry which still exist in the wails of Richborough, of Pevensey, of York, of Lincoln, of Verulam, and of other places, and in the foundations of various Roman villas, all exhibit this well-known feature, the regular and horizontal interposition of the large flat Roman bricks at intervals as bonding-courses. These bricks, however, vary much in thickness and size.

The general destruction of public edifices and churches which took place in the struggles which ensued in this country after it was finally abandoned by the Romans, and before the Saxons had obtained a mastery, are pathetically adverted to by Gildas. Bede however mentions one church, that of St. Martin, near Canterbury, as an old Roman church in existence on the arrival of St. Augustine and his companions at the close of the sixth century. Now the present church contains in no portion of the walls features of Roman construction, having been entirely rebuilt from the foundation, but with the old materials of brick and stone. The exact period of such re-edification can only be ascertained by a removal of the coating of plaster with which the walls of the chancel are covered. Some of the bricks still retain portions of the original Roman mortar, partly composed of pounded brick, adhering to them.

The Anglo-Saxons appear, as far as we can judge from the scanty remains of mixed masonry in those structures which may fairly be attributed to that people, to have made use of