88 WAftEHAM : ITS INVASIONS AND BATTLES. 



so employed, then the reason is clear why Wareham was fortified 

 by earthworks, and not, like Dorchester, with stone walls. But it 

 must be remembered that inside the North Wall is a high level ; the 

 great height of this wall is from the outside. The opening was 

 probably made the important entrance to the town, and it is a 

 reasonable conjecture that through massive gates communication 

 was made with the Roman stations and camp beyond. There is no 

 better point from which to realise Roman Wareham than from the 

 Wall, and no better place to contemplate this Wall than from the 

 causeway, which was doubtless made when the sea retreated, and 

 by which the town is approached. Of this Wall anon, when we 

 consider Hutchins' theory that the earthworks were thrown up by 

 the Danes. We have made no bold assertion, but offered a 

 suggestion worth consideration, and which probably might con- 

 tribute towards a solution of the problem concerning the date of 

 Wareham Walls. The ancient records of the town were stolen and 

 destroyed, and this calamity is deeply to be deplored. The 

 principal streets of Wareham lie north, west, east, and south, 

 and so form a cross, and an investigation of the north-west angle 

 will disclose three distinct crosses in that quarter of the town. 

 Wareham was destroyed by a great fire in 1762, when unfortunately 

 the ancient registers of the churches were destroyed ; but that it 

 was rebuilt on the original plan may be proved by reference to the 

 map. 



Concerning the Roman name of Wareham there appears some 

 doubt. " Mr. Baxter, with whom Dr. Stukely concurs, will have 

 it to be the Morionium, or Moriconium, of Ravennas." This is 

 contradicted by Mr. Warne, who writes : " Neither do I hesitate in 

 awarding to Hamworthy the true site of Moriconium, which has 

 hitherto been assigned to Wareham." 



" The Icknield street ran from Yarmouth to Land's End," passing 

 through Dorset and somewhere north of Wareham. We gather 

 from Ancient Dorset, p. 181, that a Vicinal Way "leaves the Via 

 Iceniana at a point about a quarter of a mile north of Bad Bury ; " 

 and it should seem that one of these Ways terminated at Hamworthy. 



