168 Recent Excavations at Birrens. 



ticularly in respect of the manner of dressing tlie facing-stones. The 

 materials used are the freestone of the district with lime mortar. 

 Limestone is abundant in the vicinity, and the traces of mortar 

 in the walls, although meagre, sufficiently establish its use. The 

 facing-stones of both sides of the primary walls are headers, squared 

 and arranged in regular courses, generally 6 inches to 7 inches 

 high, and in lengths of 9 to 18 inches, and the centre is closed with 

 stones fitted in between the headers. As showing the excellence 

 of the work, it may be mentioned that in the case of No. IV. even 

 the dwarf walls are so built. 



Some specimens of bonding- found are typical. One consists 

 of freestone flags about 2^ inches thick laid in the wall, so as to 

 extend across its thickness and form a continuous course in its 

 length. The best example remaining is in the north wall of No. 

 XL, where it forms the seventh course above the foundation (see 

 drawing, plate III A.). Bonding bricks appear also to have been 

 used, for, although not found in position, numerous fragments of 

 such are scattered about. 



The manner of dressing- the stones exhibited is various ; 

 genex'ally the inside faces of the walls are scabbled, and in many 

 cases the outside faces are similarly dressed. The dressing of the 

 external face of the front wall of No. IV. is the most character- 

 istic. The stones show diagonal lines forming a reticulated or 

 diamond pattern of half-inch to inch mesh within a chiselled margin. 

 This wall is of superior and artistic workmanship, and the great 

 care bestowed on it is doubtless due to its prominent position in 

 the main street. Appearance being less essential in other locali- 

 ties, less elaborately dressed work is made to suffice. 



It now only remains to notice the indications of architectural 

 treatment afforded by the vestiges. That appearance was an 

 element in the design is sufficiently attested by the use of superior 

 and more elaboi'ately dressed masonry in the most prominent 

 situation — the main street. From this, too, it may be deduced 

 that the great display of buttresses, with their splayed and neatly 

 li^ewn base course, while intended chiefly to secure strength, were 

 probably likewise utilised to promote architectural effect. The 

 arcade of the praetorium already described is an architectural 

 feature, and a variety of fragments remain indicative of the exist- 

 ence of others, and of artistic surroundings. 



