ROMANO-BRITISH BERKSHIRE 



flint rubble without bonding tiles, but at one corner there were two lines of thin slabs of 

 stone. The outside diameter of the inner octagon was 35 feet n inches while the ex- 

 treme diameter was 63 feet 7 inches. The distance between the walls was 10 feet 4. inches. 

 Many fragments of Roman brick, some flanged, were dug up, three or four coins of Con- 

 stantine and eight or ten fragments of pottery. 



This curious building does not seem to have stood isolated, for foundations, probably 

 of the Roman period, have been discovered on land adjoining at various times during 

 agricultural operations. Without more knowledge of the nature of the buildings surrounding 

 it would be dangerous to hazard an opinion as to the use of these remains, but it may be 

 suggested that the dimensions of this building correspond very closely with the sixteen- 

 sided polygonal temple discovered at Silchester. 1 If this conjecture is correct the outer 

 wall would have been a sleeper wall to carry a colonnade or peristyle and the inner the 

 wall of the cella or sanctuary. The dimensions of the temple at Silchester are, thickness 



F..I. 

 PLAN AND SECTION OF OCTAGONAL BUILDING AT WEYCOCK FIELD. 



of outer wall 2 feet 5 inches ; of inner 2 feet 6 inches ; diameter of inner ring, 35 feet 

 7 inches; width between the walls, 9 feet 6 inches; total diameter 65 feet (Arch. liv). 

 Attention was called to this similarity by Mr. C. R. Peers, M.A., F.S.A. The theory 

 of Hon. Richard Neville and Mr. Parker that the building was a tower or fortress is very 

 improbable ; the diameter of the building is too great, the walls would not be thick 

 enough, and there does not appear to be any reason why there should have been an inner 

 and outer wall. 



Mr. Neville and Mr. Parker describe some coins which had been found previously 

 in Weycock Field. Amongst them were a silver denarius of Honorius, a denarius of the 

 Antonia family, a third brass of Carausius and other coins of the Constantino family, 



1 Many similar structures, best explained as temples, have been found elsewhere in western Europe. 

 A good example from Lorraine is published by Huber in the Jabrbuch der Gesellschaft fur kthring- 

 iscbe Gescbichu, xiv. Plate 3 [F. Haverfield]. 



I 217 28 



