HAMDON HILL. 89 



or " Chedzils," still remain, at least one, and probably more 

 pavements. 



A part of this interesting spot I am happy to announce 

 as having been just lald open by our Yeovil friends, within 

 the last week, and will be one of the subjects of this 

 morning's examination. No doubt this spot was the site 

 of an officer's villa or country residence. Of such, many 

 have been discovered in this country, and are usually at 

 some fevv miles distant from the military camp, afFording a 

 pleasant retreat to their possessors from the din of war. 

 Of the Roman roads in the neighbourhood of the hill, I 

 am sorry not to be able to give a very luminous account. 

 I have mentioned the British trackway, afterwards the 

 Roman fosse, which led through Ischalis (Ilchester), west- 

 ward, and is now the turnpike-road. At Ilchester, which 

 is Said to have been an extensive Station of the Romans, 

 other roads met ; one from Dorchester (Durnovaria), 

 another from Glastonbury, within a few miles of which the 

 beautiful villa at Pitney was found. That to Dorchester 

 may, I think, be clearly traced for many miles ; i.e., to 

 Vagg Hill, where it crosses the turnpike and leads to 

 Prestou ; then near Furzy Nap, on the Yeovil and Crew- 

 kerne road, which it crosses and goes on through Barwick, 

 &c. At Ilchester, some years since, was found a massive 

 and valuable gold ring, bearing a fine head of the Emperor 

 Severus, I believe ; it is now in the possession of J. Moore, 

 Esq. Several others have there been dug up, and many 

 coins of Antoninus Pius, Constantine, and others : indeed, 

 the tovvn is still rieh in Roman remains, and worthy of 

 antiquarian research. Portions of a causeway crossing the 

 ford are still visible in the bed of the river, a few yards 

 below the bridge. I think it questionable if many truly 

 military roads were formed by the Romans in this part of 



1853*, PAUT n. M 



