Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/567

 THE AKCIIAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 897 destroyed lliat it was impossible to form any idea of the plan of the building'. The ground, on which it stood, sloped gently towards the south ; what appeared to have been the front of the building faced the south, and extended from east to west, about 8(5 yards. A wide hedge-row had grown up on this; and it was in grubbing this hedge-row that the foundations were discovered. Tiie dryness of the summer enabled me to trace the course of extensive walls in the held, north of the hedge-row, which is called Littleton Five-acres. 1 considered them to be merely walls of enclosure : one extended from the west end of the building, in a direction bearing N. N. E. for about 120 yards ; it then turned at an obtuse angle, N. K. E., and extended about 150 yards, and was then lost in a copse. Another wall could be traced from the eastern end of the building, which stretched across the field in a straight line, for about SO yards, where it abutted on the wall above described, at about 30 yards east of the turning. I found numerous fragments of pottery in the soil disturbed in grubbing the roots, chiefly of a coarse description ; but there was one small fragment of Samian ware, and several of lloman flanged tiles. The measurements stated above must be taken merely as approximations, as time was too short, and the means at hand inadequate for greater accuracy. " Last week I was again informed of the discovery of remains supposed to be Roman, in a copse called Wickes's Eow, on the Blackdown Estate, in the parish of Upham. Mr. Stevens, the owner of the farm, courteously conducted me to the place, and explained to me what had been done. These remains were also brought to light in grubbing a piece of the copse, which pro- jected into the field. The walls extend backwards into the copse, and enclose a space of about 25 or 30 yards square, and still stand considerably above the level of the ground, though covered with soil, jilants, and underwood ; J[r. Stevens had caused some slight excavations to be made and had partly opened a passage, about 5 feet in width, the walls of which were about the same height. The walls were found to be lined with a fine plaster, which had been coloured with red, green, and yellow. When first opened, these colours were still bright ; several fragments of the plaster were preserved, but none sulliciently large to enable me to make out any pattern ; and the colours were fast fading away. Great quantities of the stones of the roof were found, several with the nails, by which tlujy had been fastened, still sticking in them. Several fragments of the flanged tiles, and Koman Ijricks were also found, and much pottery. The best and most perfect specimen of this, Mr. Stevens has kindly permitted me to send, for the inspection of tlie Members of the Institute ; as well as a portion of a small armilla, formed of twisted bronze wire. It is hoped that excavations will be continued at this place, as soon as the season becomes favourable for such operations. They can hardly fail to be attended with interesting residts. " It may be remarked that the lloman road from Winchester to I'orchester passed near this building. "The last discovery, to which I desire to draw the attention of the Insti- tute, is that of a liomau (h-ain, or water-course, which has lately been found in this city. It is well worthy of notice, both on account of its construction..