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VIII. — An attempt fa define the extent and nature of the Roman 

 occupation of Cornwall. — By N. Whitley, F.M.S., 

 Son. Sec. 



Read 2\st May, 1875. 



IN the south of England, as far west as Bath, Ilchester, and 

 Dorchester, the indications of the Roman occupation of the 

 country are strongly marked by the remains of their well con- 

 structed roads, their noble towns, and their luxurious villas. In 

 passing westward into Devonshire, the traces of this occupation 

 gradually become less distinct, and almost wholly disappear in 

 Cornwall. 



In order to investigate this interesting subject, rather from a 

 Surveyor's point of view than that of an Antiquarian, I have 

 constructed a map of the south of England, on which the extent 

 of each sheet of the ordnance survey is defined, and then from a 

 detailed inspection of every portion of this acciu-ate survey, 

 transferred to my reduced map the Eoman roads and stations 

 which have been ascertained by actual inspection to exist at 

 present on the ground ; and where the trace of a road is doubtful 

 or indistinct I have marked its probable course by a dotted 

 line. Taking this map as the basis of the inquiry, I have then 

 endeavoured to obtain further evidence of the Eoman occupation 

 of the country, from the remains of their stations, inscribed 

 stones, coins, other relics, and from such historical fragments as 

 have come under my notice. 



Ovoc Koman conquerors had three principal ports on the coast 

 of Kent, nearest to the continent, for the landing of their troops. 

 Eichborough fRitupoeJ, Dover (BuhrisJ, and Jjymne fZemamim J . 

 From each of these ports a military road ran direct to Canterbury 

 fDurovernumJ, where they met at a centre ; and from thence the 

 noble "Watling-street" passed through Rochester fBurolrivisJ, 

 to London fLondiniumJ, early made the most important Roman 

 settlement, from whence seven leading roads radiated to every 

 part of the country ; that to the west crossed the Thames at 



