Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/408

390 a watchful eye on the progress of the numerous railways lately projected. During the progress of excavating, many remains of antiquity had already been destroyed, and although some articles had found their way into private collections, no exact account had in most cases been preserved of the position and circumstances of their discovery. If the monument alluded to by Mr. Smith must be destroyed, it is to be wished at least that some intelligent observer should be present to note down any discoveries which may be made. Mr. Wright had heard that antiquities had been recently discovered in excavating for the Margate and Ramsgate railway, but could not learn what they were or what had become of them.

Mr. Smith exhibited a sketch of some early masonry in the cellar of a house in Leicester, forwarded by Mr. James Thompson, with the following letter:—

"On September 28, Mr. Flower of this town was informed by the sexton of St. Martin's church, that there were some curious arches in a cellar in his occupation. Mr. Flower was sketching some Norman arches in the belfry of the church, at the time, which, the sexton said, reminded him of those in his cellar. In the evening Mr. F. visited the place in company with a few friends, and was so much struck with the remains, that he bestowed considerable examination upon them, and took a rough sketch on the spot. I should state that the house under which the cellar is situated is an old one, it has rather a large projecting gable, and is probably of the date of Queen Elizabeth's reign. The masonry of the wall in the cellar is composed mainly of rough irregular-shaped pieces of stone, principally granite, which are laid together in convenient portions, but not in regular rows. Over the heads of the arches, intended to be round, are rows of tiles, which are similar in shape to those used in the Jewry wall, and which, as you will perceive, resemble those to be met with in remains of Roman origin. There are also, in various parts of the wall, other bricks of the same shape, but not laid in order.

"The following are the measurements of the openings: from the top to the bottom of the first arch on the left hand, 48 inches; width, 22 inches. Width of the opening in the recessed part, 8 inches. This was the entire width of the actual opening. The depth of the splaying is 23 inches, leaving 12 inches on the outer side, which is not to be seen, as there is nothing but earth-work beyond: the entire thickness of the wall is however 35 inches, from which the extent of the splaying outwardly is inferred. From the angle at the base of the outer orifice to that of the inner (on the cellar side) is 25 inches; from the base of one to the base of the other is 23 inches; thus, the second arch is on the surface of the wall, 44 inches high, 22 wide; the third, 50$1⁄2$ inches by 22; and the fourth, (on the right of the picture, and filled up with rubbish,) 50 inches by 24.

"On the opposite side of the cellar, that is, the eastern one, are four square recesses, which are situated 2 feet 10 inches above the floor, and in a line nearly corresponding in position with the arches on the other side. They are 15 inches wide by 10 deep; from the surface of the wall to the back of each recess is 11 inches. The bottom of each recess has been covered with a large tile. There are three hollows, of less size and irregular shape, higher up in the wall, but they may have been made by accident. On measuring the dimensions of the cellar, I found them to be as follows: length from north to south, 9 yards 29 inches; breadth from east to west, 4 yards 32 inches. It is almost exactly two cubes.