346 



relick of antiquity," and it may be noted that this is probably the 

 nearest point to Bath where the road can be examined with 

 advantage. 



It would be interesting to ascertain whether any branch road 

 led from here to Wellow, where it will be remembered the 

 remains of important Eoman Villas were discovered many years 

 ago, but of this probably nothing is known. 



After passing the brook at Dunkerton, there is another slight 

 divergence where the turnpike has been turned aside to find an 

 easier gradient, but with this exception, the present highway has 

 been constructed on the site of the old Roman road, all the way 

 from Dunkerton by way of Camerton and Woodbarrow, until it 

 enters the parish of Radstock, at Round Hill. Near this point, 

 about 220 yards to the south of the road, there is a very fine 

 barrow, believed to have been opened by Mr. Skir.ner, and close 

 by he is said to have discovered an extensive group of villas, on 

 which he founded the important theory, that these were the 

 veritable remains of the Roman city of Camulodunum, previously 

 associated with Colchester. CoUinson speaking of this spot, says 

 " large foundations of buildings have been seen," and that " near 

 the Fosse were heretofore found some large bones and part of a 

 tessellated pavement." The Ordnance map also shows Roman 

 remains of considerable extent on both sides of the road at this 

 point, but the plough has been busy since those days, and not a 

 vestige of all this is now to be seen, save only the magnificent 

 .barrow already spoken of, which it is to be hoped will be handed 

 down to future generations. 



After passing this spot, and on reaching the brow of the hill near 

 Smallcombe, the turnpike road and the Fosse again part company, 

 the former \a inding circuitously through the village of Radstock, 

 while the Fosse keeps a perfectly straight course from Smallcombe 

 to the Great Elm at Westfield, about a mile to the westward, 

 where it again rejoins the turnpike road leading to Shepton and 

 Wells. In descending through the hamlet of Smallcombe the 



