Volume 1

The gentleman's magazine library : being a classified collection of the chief contents of The gentleman's magazine from 1731 to 1868. Romano-British remains / edited by George Laurence Gomme.

Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The gentleman's magazine library : being a classified collection of the chief contents of The gentleman's magazine from 1731 to 1868. Romano-British remains / edited by George Laurence Gomme. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    spade of the labourer, have fallen to pieces. There has hitherto been only one coin found, and that is a coin of Trajan, with the head of a Trajan on one side, and on the reverse Britannia leaning upon a shield, with “brit.” underneath; but as labourers are employed in making researches, it is hoped that further discoveries may still be made. There have been already at least 80 bodies found, some of which apparently have been buried in coffins of wood, as a number of iron nails greatly corroded have been dug out of the graves. The spot of ground upon which this discovery has been made is called in ancient deeds “ Heaven’s Walls,” and lies at the bottom of a hill, on the summit of which is a tumulus called “ Limbury,” and sometimes “ Limbloe Hill.” [1829, Part /., p. 546.] Extensive remains of a Roman villa were lately disturbed at Litlington, in Cambridgeshire. The pavements were unfortunately destroyed by the curiosity of the uninformed; but the curate of Steeple Morden was enabled to make drawings of the most highly- ornamented, and has removed one to a coach-house in Pembroke Lane, Cambridge, belonging to the Eagle Inn. [1838, Part II, p. 181.] A fine and perfect specimen of a Roman sword was lately ploughed up in a field at Litlington, Cambridgeshire. It is formed of the celebrated bronze metal, is about 18 inches in length, two-edged, and of elegant form, and in an extraordinary state of preservation, con- sidering the long period it has been buried. Mr. Deck, chemist, of Cambridge, possesses this curious relic. [See ante, p. 14.] Sawston. [1816, Part II., pp. 173, 174.] As some labourers were digging in a gravel-pit, on what is com- monly called Huckeridge Hill, near Sawston, in the county of Cambridge, they discovered the remains of a human skeleton, about 3 feet below the surface of the ground. At the feet of the skeleton stood two vessels of brass ornamented on the rim ; and on the left side were found fragments of pottery and a sword. On the 5th inst. they met with two spear-heads, etc., in the same pit. These relics, though much injured by time, are worth the notice of an antiquary. The brass vessel and sword are in the possession of the Rev. Dr. E. D. Clarke; the spear-heads and fragments of pottery were pur- chased by M. D. Duffield, Esq., F.S.A. Several spear-heads and celts were discovered near the same place a few years ago. (See Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. LXXXV., ii., p. 26.) [See Note 2.] From the contiguity to Vandlebury (Gog-Magog), they may be supposed to be Roman.
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