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 A HISTORY OF LONDON much of it has been used to make the road with, as can be seen any time the road is opened. At Aldermanbury was a postern which is said to have been formed in 1655, but it seems likely that something of the kind stood here in Roman times. Roach Smith *^ records that ' In the spring of last year (1857) excava- tions for the foundation of houses on the north-eastern side of Aldermanbury Postern laid open a portion of the wall of peculiar construction, being com- posed of a series of blind arches (Plan C, 84). At first it was supposed there had been openings in the wall, but as the work advanced it was ascer- tained that the arches were merely constructional, as they formed throughout part of the solid masonry.' This structure is quite exceptional, and it would appear to have been formed to support some addition to the ordinary defences of the City. Beyond the postern is the little graveyard of St. Alphage, closed by Act of Parliament in 1853, on the back wall of which is a tablet stating that it is 'the old Roman wall' (Plan C, 36). Undoubtedly this hes buried beneath the surface, but there is no Roman work that can be recognized above ground. That which is visible is however, of interest, as preserving the remains of the brick battlements with stone copings, which were finally added to the wall by Joceline in the reign of Edward IV. At the north end of Wood Street on the site now occupied by Cripple- gate Buildings stood Cripplegate. No remains have been discovered, so far as is known, to show the existence of a gate on this spot in Roman times, but there is mention of a gate here as early as 10 10,*^ which may quite possibly have had a Roman origin (Plan C, 36). Still continuing in a straight line the wall passes behind the houses of Hart Street, and forms the southern boundary of the main portion of St. Giles's Churchyard. The Hne of the wall at this point turns sharply almost due south, and although all trace of the wall itself has disappeared, a con- siderable portion of the bastion situated at the angle still remains above ground, but this has been so often patched and repaired at ditferent times that it is probably wholly encased in a comparatively modern covering (Plan C, 37). It was damaged in the extensive fire at Jewin Crescent a few years ago, and afterwards repaired by order of the Corporation under the super- vision of Mr. J. Terry.** The opportunity was then taken to examine the foundations, and excavation showed that its base extended to a depth of 18 ft. below the present level of the churchyard, which with the 1 3 ft. above ground gives a total height of 3 i ft. Mr. Terry says : — The foundations (which are on the ballast) and, indeed, the lower portions of the wall to the height of about 4 feet, are in a good state of preservation, and judging by the appear- ance of the materials used, particularly the mortar, this portion is probably Roman work. Above this height the work was of a different character, several kinds of stone had been used, intermixed with pieces of Roman tiles and flints, and in some instances the stones had been wedged up with several layers of oyster shells, the mortar being of an inferior quality to that found at a lower level, and there is not the slightest indication of this portion of the bastion being the work of the Romans, although full of their materials. Mem. St. Edmund's Jbbey (Rolls Ser.), i, 43. " Lond. and Midd. Arch. Soc. Trans (new ser.), i, 356-9. 62
 * ^ lllus. of Rom. Lond. 17.
 * • The body of St. Edmund was in loio brought into London 'a via quae Anglice dicitur Ealsegate ;