Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/98

82 ing monument. The ruins are now, however, strictly closed against intruders.

Mr. Thomas Inskip, of Shefford, Bedfordshire, communicated an account of the discovery of Roman remains recently brought to light in that neighbourhood. Two skeletons were found, buried cross-wise, the head of one to the south-east, and that of the other in the contrary direction. By the side of these were placed three fine vases of glass, the largest of which, of coarse metal and of a green colour, would contain about two gallons. The form is sexagonal, and it has no handles; the glass towards the lower part is half an inch in thickness. There was also a glass bottle, of remarkably elegant design, and of the colour of pale Port wine, with a slight purple tinge. All these vessels were broken to pieces; some fragments of Samian ware were found, and an iron utensil, apparently intended for the purpose of hanging up a lamp against a wall.

The Rev. Edward Gibbs Walford, Rector of Chipping Warden, near Banbury, exhibited a bead, or annular ornament of pale olive-green coloured glass, supposed to be of early British fabrication; it was found in August, 1844, near the south-east corner of the bull-baiting ground in Chipping Warden parish. Mr. Walford caused the spot to be excavated, but nothing more was discovered. The bull-baiting ground is nearly contiguous to the Arbury Banks; in the middle of it are the remains of an artificial bank, parallel with the Wallow Bank; and at a spot midway between them the bead was found. The value of this relic, as Mr. Walford remarked, is that it affords an evidence, in addition to many others, that these Banks were of British construction and occupation.

Mr. Hawkins, in reference to a communication which had been made at a previous meeting regarding the present state of Llantoney Abbey, furnished the following particulars. The owner of the property, Walter Savage Lander, the poet, now resident in Italy, has been much blamed for allowing stones to be removed from the abbey, for the construction of a house built there by him. The abbey is now very ruinous, the walls of the choir are standing, at least so far preserved that the outline of some of the windows is shown. The walls of the south transept are tolerably perfect, the north transept is ruinous; the arches which separate the nave from the aisles are in fair preservation and very beautiful. The north aisle is occupied by a wash-house and skittle-ground. The cloisters, dormitories, &c., are used as a place for the reception of visitors, kept by a person named Webb, who does all in his power to preserve the ruins, which do not appear to have suffered any injuries of late. The western front is very perfect and beautiful, but the tracery of the great window is gone.

Letters were read by Mr. Smith from Mr. W. Webster and Mr. C. Beauchamp, relating to a Roman tesselated pavement at West Dean, Hants, which was partially laid open upwards of a century since. It is apprehended that it may now be destroyed by railway operations. Mr. Smith stated that he had written on this subject to Mr. Beauchamp, the tenant of the land, and to Mr. Hatcher, of Salisbury, and Captain Smith, R.M., who had promised to report to the Committee.