By J. U. Potoell, M.A. 275 



traces of which still remain. But the further we go south-east, 

 the clearer the traces of Romano-British habitation become. The 

 first nucleus of population appears to be some few miles south-east, 

 and it is probable that the more important settlement in Roman 

 times was not Warminster but Bishopstrow. And it is significant 

 that when Christianity was first preached in this part, it is at 

 Bishopstrow, not Warminster, that we are told that Aldhelm 

 preached, a statement which there is no ground for questioning. 



This populous hill district was carefully fortified, and shows 

 traces of organisation among neighbouring settlements for the 

 purpose of combined defence. Bilbury Rings ^ (or Wylye Camp), 

 Hanging Langford Camp, Groveley Castle — to be distinguished 

 from Groveley "Works" — and, to a certain extent, Groveley 

 Works themselves, all facing the valley and the low undulating 

 downs to the north-east, appear to be fortifications designed to 

 cover the settlements. We find a wide ditch with high banks, 

 winding from the end of Groveley Wood to the beginning of Great 

 Ridge Wood, and like Bokerly Dyke, protecting the open ground, 

 and with its ends resting on a forest. Probably such banks were 

 originally surmounted with a stockade ; and just as the Bokerly 

 Dyke- appears to be designed to check an enemy coming from the 

 north-east, so we find that Groveley '^ works have been strengthened 

 in later times by additional ramparts facing north and east. Pitt- 

 Rivers' arguments about Bokerly Dyke may be reasonably applied 

 to this work, and just as he has, proved that the date of Bokerly 

 is subsequent to the time of the severance of Britain from Rome, 

 — 407 — (for the coins that have been found are as late as Honorius, 

 423), we shall probably not be wrong in inferring the same date 

 for this entrenchment, so closely do the two works appear to 

 resemble one another. 



But on the downs on the north side of the valley the character 

 of the fortifications is different. Here we find isolated " camps," 



' Hoare, Ancient Wilts, 108 sq. 

 - Pitt-Rivers, loc. cit. 

 ' Hoare, Ancient Wilts, 110, 111. 

 VOL. XXXIV. — NO. CV. U 



