•• I >( » APPENDIX— ROMAN-BRITISH 



though now planted in many places, chiefly with Scotch fir. 

 But the westerly ridge of Blackmoor extends back as far as 

 the Gault clay, on which there is abundance of oak and other 

 wood. At the exact point of junction between these two for- 

 mations, at the east end of Blackmoor Wood, and within the 

 limits of the present gardens of Blackmoor House, is a small 

 square island, surrounded by a moat of water ; and behind, 

 and higher than Blackmoor House, to the north (also included 

 within the present gardens) is a piece of land formerly called 

 the " Chapel Field." Here, while the foundations were being 

 dug in 1867 for a kitchen-garden wall, the first discovery of 

 Roman or Roman-British remains was made. A large sepul- 

 chral earthenware vase was dug up, much broken in the upper 

 part, in which were contained a small bronze cup, enamelled 

 in various colours, nearly perfect, and the remains of a bronze 

 patera of extreme thinness ; also one large bronze coin, much 

 worn, which is pronounced by competent authority to be of 

 Lucius Verus. There were in this vase some small remains 

 of bones. 



In other parts of the garden and grounds, and in digging 

 the foundations for the house and offices, there were found 

 many fragments of various articles of Roman pottery, inclu- 

 ding some of Samian or imitated from Samian ware; some 

 Roman tiles (probably roof-tiles), many of which were in the 

 island already mentioned ; a bronze celt or axe-head ; a large 

 leaden ring, such as might have been run through a staple 

 fixed into a post or wall ; and two iron axe-heads, an iron 

 socket for receiving the head of an axe or other weapon, a 

 large iron cattle-bell, and fragments of iron nails, &c. The 

 dates of these leaden and iron articles (all which were much 

 oxidated) I do not profess to determine. 



In 1868 the moat round the small island was cleaned out, 

 and at the bottom of it were found a large earthenware water- 

 vessel and a small earthenware drinking-cup, both in excellent 

 preservation. 



A reservoir for the storage of water was constructed under 

 the Temple " Hanger" in 1869-70; and in digging-out this 

 reservoir some further fragments of Roman pottery were found. 



