246 



The Roman Villa at Box. 



exceedingly effective. It remained tolerably perfect along the 

 east passage for 28 feet from the north wall, and returned a short 

 distance along the north passage. The greater part of this passage 

 was not cleared, 1 but at the west end fragments of the pavement 

 were again found, which were of great interest as showing where 

 the passage returned southward along the west side of the court. 



The north-east angle of this passage was opened by Mr. Mullins 

 in 1833, and described in his letter, already quoted. The pavement 

 appears to have been preserved by him by enclosing it in a walled 

 building, that was used as a beer cellar, which was destroyed some 

 years ago ; but the lowest courses of its 8 inch ashlar walls were 

 found. 



Chamber II. was probably a passage, but it is not possible to say 

 definitely, as the only indication of its existence is a fragment of 

 pavement, now covered by a trap-door in the lawn of "The 

 Wilderness." 2 It consists of a band of chocolate tesserse of uncertain 

 width, a band of red inches wide, and a band of cream-colour, 

 also of uncertain width. 



A large area of the lawn to the south covers tesselated pave- 

 ments, judging by a probing rod, and may shortly be exposed to 

 view. 



Chamber III. retains the core of the foundations of the north 

 wall, which now forms a terrace wall above the sunk garden 

 already mentioned. 



The nature of the floor is unknown, as no excavation has been 

 made on the site. 3 



1 The pavement, from the reports of the workmen who had uncovered part 

 of it before, is believed to be in a fairly perfect condition throughout most of 

 this northern passage. 



2 This fragment of flooring has unfortunately been since destroyed through 

 an error. 



3 In the recent excavations, which will be referred to at the end of this 

 paper, a fragment of this floor was found at the south-west angle of the 

 apartment. It consists of a border 16 inches wide of coarse cream-coloured 

 tesserse, with a vandyked band of small blue-black tesserae 4| inches wide, 

 forming the edge of the centre portion, which had a white ground, but had 

 almost all been destroyed. 



