ROMANO-BRITISH BERKSHIRE 



some skeletons exhumed on a hill near Parson's Copse. A deep pond paved with an- 

 cient brickwork near the ' Old Street ' [Hewett, Hist, and Antiq. of Hundred, of 

 Compton, 36]. 



LAMBOURN. In an arable field on Stancombe Down, situated about z miles north 

 of the town of Lambourn and 4^ south-west of Wantage, foundations of a building, 

 probably a Romano-British villa, were uncovered in 1887, during the course of 

 excavations to obtain flints [Proc. Soc. Antiq. (ser. 2) xi. 410-411]. The walls were 

 about 3 feet wide 'in strong mortar.' Unfortunately most of the materials had been 

 carried away before Mr. W. Money, who reported the discovery to the Society of Anti- 

 quaries, visited the spot, so the extent of the buildings could not be ascertained. Roofing- 

 tiles, tesserae and fragments of pottery were scattered about. Mr. Money was informed 

 that almost the whole area within the walls was covered by a stratum of wood ashes with 

 pieces of pottery and coins, but of these last he saw only a third brass of Constantine. 

 There were also portions of stencilled wall plaster, and a perfect Roman mortarium orna- 

 mented with a series of triangular lines was found on the same spot [Newbury Dist. 

 Field Club Trans, iv. 190]. 



What was probably the cemetery attached to this villa was found about sixteen 

 years earlier, when some labourers digging for chalk on the open down east of and close 

 to the cross country road to Wantage came upon part of a human skeleton. Further 

 excavations made in consequence of this discovery disclosed ten graves parallel to each 

 other and at a distance of about 2 feet apart, in which were twelve male skeletons 

 and a separate skull. It is stated that many iron studs of caligce were found at 

 the feet of one whose decapitated head was placed between his knees. Four small 

 pieces of pottery were found and later on fragments of iron weapons and some coins, 

 but it is not said whether all or any of these were Roman [Newbury Dist. Field Club 

 Trans, i. 207]. 



In Lambourn and its precincts coins have been found from Vespasian to Magnentius 

 (A.D. 69-350) and a circular fibula [Nezvbury Dist. Field Club Trans, iv. 204]. 



Large quantities of dressed flints set in cement, the remains, it is supposed, of Roman 

 buildings, have been found in Cheneys or Cheynes meadow, which lies in this parish about 

 half a mile north-east of Membury Fort on the Wiltshire border and on the line of the 

 Baydon road [Daily Express, 17 June, 1901]. 



LETCOMBE REGIS. In October 1876 it came to the knowledge of Mr. Davey, F.G.S., that 

 fragments of ancient pottery and the foundations of a considerable building had been 

 discovered in a field on Cranhill farm in this parish [Arch. Journ. xxxiii. 381-392], The 

 building was of the corridor type, 80 feet 8 inches from north to south and 36 feet 4 

 inches from east to west. It was divided into five rooms 

 of varying size. In the southernmost was the hypocaust, 

 the pibe of which varied from 8 inches square to 15 by 12 

 inches. All the walls were 3 feet thick but their depth 

 varied. Many flanged flue tiles scored in the usual man- 

 ner, pieces of wall plaster coloured a dull red, and numer- 

 ous fragments of pottery, chiefly of common ware although 

 a few were of Samian, were found, but not a single whole 

 vessel. There were also iron nails, clamps and bolts, three 

 fragments of a thick bluish iridescent glass, the usual animal 

 remains, some snail and a great quantity of oyster shells. 

 Only five coins were picked up at this time though many 

 had previously been found on the site. They were a fine 

 first brass of Trajan (A.D. 98-117), a Julia Domna (A.D. 

 175-217), an Allectus (A.D. 293-296), and two of Constan- 

 tine (A.D. 306-337). 



An earlier discovery in this parish had been made in 

 1750. It was described by the rector of East Hendred as 

 consisting of a number of small coins, a few gold but 

 mostly silver, found within three or four brass vessels ' one 



CRANHILL VILLA, LETCOMBE 

 REGIS. 



within the other in the shape of a hat ' and ' full of holes like a cullendar ' [Bibl. Topog. 

 Brit. iv. 29, 30]. 



Another local clergyman who had seen some of these coins reported that they were 

 ' of modern date struck but a little before the Romans left this island ' [Ibid. iv. 57]. 



211 



