WIMBORNE, BADBURY, AND KINGSTON MEETING. ll. 



somewhat resembles Old Sarum, which is undoubtedly of Celtic origin. So 

 Badbury may, without question, be assigned to the same era. The entrench- 

 ments consist of three concentric ramparts of chalk, flanked by corresponding 

 ditches of considerable depth and width. The fortification had two entrances 

 one on the east, in almost a straight line, and one on the west, with much more 

 extensive works of protection. Both Mr. Warne and Dr. Smart agree that the 

 central portion of Badbury Rings is of Celtic origin, answering to Caesar's 

 description of the British oppidum, or place of refuge in case of invasion, for the 

 tribes living in the immediate neighbourhood. The name appears to have been 

 derived from the Celtic word "Bad " or " Abad," meaning habitation or town. 

 Both these authorities also concur in thinking that the two outer ramparts are of 

 more recent date. Dr. Smart suggests that the middle one, with its rampart and 

 ditch, may be the work of the Eomans, and that the third or exterior area may 

 have been added by the Saxons. Leland speaks of it evidently from hearsay : 

 " The Saxon Kings had hard by the town of Wimburne a castelle now caulled 

 Bad Byri, but clerely down the ditches, hills, and site thereof, be yet evidently 

 seene." Aubrey says of it : " Bad Bury Campe is very great, but it is a rude 

 oblong fortification with double and treble works, ramparts, and groffes ; there- 

 fore, I affirm it to be no Roman camp." The area of Badbury is about 18 acres 

 in extent, and the length of the outer circle of the fortification is just under a 

 mile. This part of England was, in the Celtic times, inhabited by the Durotriges, 

 who, as the name implies, were "dwellers by the water," and whose territory 

 extended along the coast from the mouth of the River Avon at Christchurch to 

 the Axe at Seaton, and from the coast inland to the chain of hills that form a 

 natural protection on the north. The Roman Road from Sarum (Sorbiodunum) to 

 Dorchester (Durnovaria) passed close to Badbury Rings. It is known as Ackling 

 Dyke, or Iceniana, or Icenway, and another Roman road from Hamworthy 

 (Moriano), probably to Bath or the Bristol Channel, past on the east side of 

 Badbury, traces of which can still be seen. Mr. Fletcher added that Mrs. Bankes, 

 of Kingston Lacy, had kindly had a section of the Roman Road near the house 

 opened up. They were rather disappointed in finding that it was not a metalled 

 road. Mr. Le Jeune kindly helped him in the work. 



The PRESIDENT said he remembered on the occasion of the 

 last visit of the Club to Kingston Lacy many years ago going 

 with Mr. Mansel-Pleydell and a small party along the Roman 

 Road. His impression was that it was metalled in parts. His 

 memory was of a track across a ploughed field thickly strewn 

 with flints. Mr. FLETCHER replied that the part on the 

 Hamworthy side certainly was metalled ; but he had never 

 seen any metalled on this side. A question being raised as to 

 the possibility of distinguishing between Roman roads and 



