ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 25'J 



of former disturbance of the ground down to the natural level, 

 and a cavity, which might, not improbably, have once contained 

 a sepulchral urn. 



It occurs to me also to mention in this place (though their 

 origin, nature, and purpose is obscure) that, immediately to the 

 south-west of the five tumuli on the Blackmoor Ridge, over- 

 looking Woolmer Pond, are a series of ancient parallel trenches 

 (six or seven in number), of some depth, running nearly north 

 and south from the top of the ridge down to the present high 

 road. They are certainly not the result of natural or artificial 

 drainage ; and from their number and proximity to each other, 

 they can hardly represent ancient tracks or ways. Whether 

 they could, under any circumstances, have been intended for 

 military defence, I do not know. 



From the pottery and other remains found at and near Black- 

 moor House, it may be concluded with certainty that, on or 

 close to that site, there once stood Roman, or Roman-British 

 buildings of some importance ; and the name of the adjoining 

 parish, Greatham, may perhaps indicate the situation (at least 

 as early as Saxon times) of a hamlet or village more consider- 

 able than others in that neighbourhood. Mr. Sewell, in his letter 

 of 1777, already referred to, speaks of Eoman and British 

 entrenchments, as visible at that time on Headley Heath and 

 Common ; and he also describes, as a known historical event 

 (I know not on what authority), a march by Vespasian, as 

 General under Claudius, about A.D. 47, from the neighbourhood 

 of London towards Porchester, Southampton, and the Isle of 

 Wight, by way of Headley and Woolmer ; adding, that he 

 (Vespasian) then fixed, at or near Woolmer Pond, "an abiding 

 station or city, which remained near 150 years ; when they seem 

 to have been expelled thence by the Britons, or perhaps by 

 an earthquake, or some other cause." I have not myself met 

 with any mention of what Mr. Sewell calls " the Eoman city 

 or station of Wulmere in Hants," in any writer, ancient or 

 modern, with whose works I am acquainted ; and it is possible 

 (as the end of the period of " near 150 years," which he assigns 

 for its continuance, coincides with the time of Commodus, whose 

 coins were the latest which had been found in Woolmer Pond) 



