ROMAN FORTIFICATION. 143 



east of Seager's orchard at the entrance into Dorchester the 

 Icknield-street was discovered and crossed. If this Eoman road 

 was crossed there, its probable course would be towards the left 

 of the east gate ; and it is very improbable, if the gate was 

 at the end of the High East-street, that the road would have 

 been constructed in this way. The custom was to turn the road 

 to the right of the gate " so that the right sides of the attacking 

 troops which are not covered by their shields may be open to the 

 weapons of the besieged" (Vitruvius, Lib. I., cap. 5). If the gate was 

 at the end of Durngate-street it would be in the right position both 

 for this road and for the road which apparently passed through the 

 Roman Cemetery at Fordington, from which a branch may have 

 passed over the ford. The Cornhill was for centuries a market. 

 "Was it in Roman times a Forum Venale ? and did the road from the 

 east gate run into it at one end, and the road from the west gate at 

 the other ? if so, it was not an arrangement for which there is no 

 precedent. But to my mind the position of the east gate will not 

 have been conclusively proved until its foundations have been laid 

 bare, when it is to be hoped they will be mapped. 



There is nothing to show where the north gate was situated. 

 There was a north gate at the time of the commonwealth, for we 

 have particulars of the manner in which it was fortified. We 

 should naturally look for the north gate at the foot of the Friary- 

 lane. There is no evidence that it was there, but if it were, there 

 was room on the south bank of the Frome, though there is not room 

 now for a road in the direction of the Charminster-road. 



As to the construction of gateways generally, we have precise 

 particulars. At the ends of the gateways were double-leaved gates. 

 To secure them against fire Vegetius says they were covered with 

 " raw hides and iron plates, but the ancient invention is the best 

 for the purpose j it is a work (propugnaculum) thrown up before 

 the gate with a portcullis (cataracta) at the entrance suspended by 

 iron rings and ropes. If the enemy enter the work the portcullis 

 is let down and they lie at the mercy of the besieged. The wall 

 above the gate should be perforated in several places that water may 



