iHelics of t^t Jfloman ^ccupatton, Utttle 



By John Ward. 



EVERAL times within the last few years, broken 

 pottery, coins, fragments of querns, &c., belonging to 

 the above era have been found at Little Chester, the 

 Roman Derventio, and have been duly recorded in the 

 Derbyshire Natural History and Archceological Society's Journal ; 

 but it will be observed in the sequel that much has been 

 found that has not been recorded at all. Every year, with 

 little doubt, many objects as above described are turned up in 

 the gardens, or when digging to lay foundations, and most 

 of these receive no notice whatever : an occasional coin finds 

 its way into the box of odds and ends upon the cottage shelf, 

 a worked stone ornaments a rockery, and the larger potsherds 

 are broken up or thrown amongst the rubbish. 



Such might have been the fate of a considerable quantity of 

 broken pottery that some labourers turned up last August when 

 digging at the Manor House farm (Mr. Dickens'), had not Mr. 

 Keys, whose antiquarian interest in the locality is well known, 

 heard, and with characteristic promptitude repaired to the spot, 

 and recovered the " find." Subsequently he and the writer made 

 a visit which led to the discovery that Mr. Dickens' neighbour, 

 Mr. Mottram, had in his possession sundry coins, fragments 

 of querns, various worked stones (one in particular most interest- 

 ing), and a little broken pottery — all found at various times in 

 his garden. He directed them to his uncle, Mr. Williams, 



