Notes. 639 



chambers brought to light — two of them are ornamented with tes- 

 selated floors of very elegant design ; the third exhibits the method 

 adopted by the Romans for heating their apartments — the groundwork 

 being intersected by flues, which all remain in full preservation. The 

 masonry of the main walls is very substantial and in most cases as firm 

 and compact as when first laid down. These remains evidently belong 

 to a Roman villa which, it is not going too far to imagine, may have 

 been the habitation of the prefect who commanded the neighbouring 

 town of Verlucio — the first station on the great Roman read from Bath 

 to London as recorded in the Itinerary of Antoninus. Their antiquity 

 is unquestioned as the Romans finally abandoned Britain about A.D. 

 425 ; the building, therefore, must have been erected at least fourteen 

 or fifteen hundred years ago. Additional interest is given by the ex- 

 hibition of upwards of sixty coins (comprising twenty-two different 

 Emperors), which from time to time have been dug up in the surrounding 

 fields as well as by the display of other relics connected with the locality, 

 which will no doubt be duly appreciated." 



" The excavations on the site of the Roman Villa at Bromham are 

 still going on under the direction of Mr. J. S. Money. The foundations 

 of seven apartments are now visible and more it is supposed are still 

 concealed by the soil. Two sepulchral urns filled with burnt human 

 ashes have been brought to light as well as a coin of Carausius which 

 is valuable as throwing light on the age of the building. Carausius 

 usurped the government of Britain A.D. 287 and held it till assassinated 

 by his chief minister Allectus (of whom also a coin was lately discovered 

 in an adjoining field) A.D. 294. We may conclude, therefore, that the 

 villa was inhabited at that period and that its age cannot be less than 

 1550 years." 



" Within the last week several articles of curiosity have been dis- 

 covered upon this interesting site. Among them may be mentioned a 

 coin struck by Constantine the Great upon the deification of his father, 

 Constantius, who died at the Imperial Palace of York on the 25th July, 

 A.D. 306. The obverse exhibits the head of the deceased Emperor sur- 

 rounded by the words 'DIVO CONST ANTIO PIO,' To the god 

 Constantius the pious.' On the reverse is the portal of a temple 

 guarded by two eagles inscribed MEMORIA FELIX, ' Felitous 

 memory.' Three letters underneath P.LN. denote that the coin issued 

 from the mint of London. It is of the second brass, in very good 

 preservation, and was found close to another of smaller size struck 

 also under Constantine in honour of his son Crispus, that son whose 

 cruel death subsequently left such an indelible stain on the character 

 of the first Christian Emperor. The inscription on the obverse is 

 CRISPVS NOBIL C. ' Crispus noble Caesar.' On the reverse VIRTVS 

 EXERCIT. ' The valor of the army,' and the letters denoting the coin 

 stamped at London. Several other coins in inferior preservation have 

 also been brought to light ; they are all of the later empire and belong 



