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It only remains, in conclusion, to state that the site of the ancient city is still 
well defined. It lies about two hundred yards south-west of the present Creden 
hill railway station, and is still called ‘‘The Walls.” Standing on the railway 
bridge, the line of the fortifications or boundary wall which enclosed the town, can 
be traced on the eastern side by the rising undulations of the ground, the site 
itself being from four to six feet higher than the ground below. The site of the 
old town rises considerably towards the south and the west. Two trees stand 
singly about the middle of the area—an oak, which is becoming a fine tree, and a 
lime-tree—and their roots luxuriate among the remains below. Notwithstanding 
the lapse of twelve centuries, the dark soil, almost black in places, contrasts in the 
most marked manner with the ordinary red soil of the field now joined to it, thus 
confirming the tradition that the place was burnt. The Kenchester footpath 
starts from the bridge, and crosses a portion of the area. From the high ground 
on the western side, or from the stile at the far corner, the course of the main 
street may be traced in the varying growth of the crops, particularly in spring 
and autumn. ‘The corn springs up quickly over the stones, but grows poorly and 
ripens prematurely, whilst where the soil is deeper, in the centre of the way, the 
corn, if it springs up more slowly, grows with greater vigour and fertility. The 
plough still strikes the stones beneath so frequently as to require care. Fragments 
of that imperishable article, coarse pottery, may still be found by all who look 
for them, and sharp eyes may be rewarded, perhaps, by specimens of tessere, but 
coins have become very scarce and difficult to find. 
There can be no doubt, however, that an exploration three or four feet deep 
in any part of the area within the walls would produce an abundance of objects of 
interest, and rejoice the heart of an antiquarian. 
A special compartment in one of the large glass cases in the Museum has now 
been set aside for the reception of Roman remains found in Herefordshire, and 
any donations will be thankfully received and be very carefully preserved. 
ARICONIUM. 
This Roman station was second only in importance to Magna in Herefordshire, 
It is mentioned in the thirteenth iter of Antonine, and is there stated to be fifteen 
miles from Glevum (Gloucester) and twelve from Blestium (Monmouth). It 
possessed extensive smelting furnaces and forges, as shown by the many floors 
discovered, and the abundance of iron scorie to be found there. It may be called 
the Merthyr Tydvil of the Romans, and was probably also the centre of the 
numerous ironworks whose remains are discovered in South Herefordshire and the 
adjoining districts. Its very site was unknown until the beginning of last century, 
when the celebrated antiquary, John Horsley (who died in 1731) in his work, 
Britannia Romana, was the first to determine that Ariconium must have stood 
somewhere near Ross. It is now proved beyond doubt to have been seated at 
Bollitree, in the parish of Weston-under-Penyard, three miles from Ross. Up to 
the middle of last century (c. 1750) an extensive thicket of briars and brushwood 
covered and hid from view the broken walls and rubbish of Ariconium. Towards 
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