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the ancient monastery of Bath, which it is believed was 
commenced about 676 or possibly as late as 781, I found ‘a tree, 
placed to secure the foundations, of somewhat large size, and 
judging from its bark and other peculiarities, I believe was Elm. 
“Tf you go into the Museum beneath the new buildings at the 
baths and search in the north-west corner you will find some 
fragments of timber; these were found with this tree, but it is 
difficult to say whether these are of Elm.” 
A specimen of this timber was sent to Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker 
‘writes to me that ‘Sir Dietrich Brandis and Mr. Massie, who 
have experience in wood structure, have examined pieces of your 
specimen under the microscope and do not doubt its being really 
of Elm.” 
So I think you may safely take it for granted it is Elm. 
Elm timber, therefore, was used in Saxon times. 
As it is pretty certain from what has already been stated that 
the English Elm did not exist in the South of England until the 
Roman occupation, and that for a considerable time afterwards 
they would be too much engaged to send for trees or seed from 
Italy, it may be interesting to consider what was the general 
aspect of the country when the Romans left it in 410. 
The Elm, now the chief feature in our landscape, would then be 
comparatively scarce, although as the Roman occupation had 
continued for upwards of three centuries and a half, it may well 
have begun to form a conspicuous object, particularly in the 
neighbourhood of the town and of Roman villas. 
Bath had been destroyed by the Saxons after the battle of 
Dyrham, 577. 
The City must have laid for 100 to 200 years ina state of 
desolation, a vast city of stones and buildings but without 
inhabitants. (1) The country was mainly woodland. (2) 
No weirs kept back the water of the river, the swampy margin 
(1) Prof. Earle, Vol. 6, *‘ Bath Field Club Proceedings,” p. 156. 
(2) ‘* Reid’s Origin of the British Flora,” p. 21. 
