CASTLE NEROCHE. 3u 
probably mark the entrenched positions taken up by arınies 
expecting an attack from superior forces. 
But to return to the more immediate subject of my 
Paper : It is an historical fact that the mineral treasures 
of Mendip, Bleadon, and Brendon, were known, and highly 
appreciated, in very early days ; and indeed it is a question 
whether the lead mines of Mendip were not worked by the 
Phoenicians. Certain however it is, that long before the 
Roman inyasion, a considerable traffic in metals existed 
between the natives of this distriet and the more polished 
inhabitants of Gaul. Nor does it seem improbable that 
some, at least, of the fortifications of this part of the 
country may have been connected with this trade. We 
have certainly a connected line of forts, extending in 
various directions, within sight of each other, surrounding 
the mining distriet of Somerset, on all sides. Along the 
northern coast, the communication is kept up from the 
mouth of the Avon, throush Sand Point, Worle Hill, 
Brean Down, Cothelstone, Dousborough, Elworthy, and 
Dunkerry, with Exmoor and North Devon ; and I believe 
it extends through the county of Cornwall. On the land 
side, the line extends through Maes Castle, Cadbury, 
Dundry, Dolebury, Banwell, Musbury, Orchard Castle, 
Cadbury, near Yeovil, Hamdon Hill, Castle Neroche, 
Dumpdon, and Hembury, to the south of Devon, Dartmoor, 
and Cornwall ; and yet, though thus evidentiy connected, 
the difference of their plans in construction is so striking, 
that it is hardly possible that they can be the work of one 
people or of one age. 
From some of these points of difference I am inclined to 
think that they, in fact, belong to two distinet systems of 
forts—one being originally intended merely to defend the 
mining district, the other constructed in later days, by the 
