By the Rev, R. H. Clutterbuch. 



391 



any detailed history of the excavations. You will find them in a 

 paper by Mr. Joyce, in No. 40 of the " Arch apologia 1 The excava- 

 tions have enabled us to form a very accurate view of the general 

 laying out of the city, which is the rectangular plan we are familiar 

 with from the writings of the agrimensores. 



The first excavation was made on the site of one of the smaller 

 streets. The house was apparently of humble character. Amongst 

 the articles found in it was part of a millstone and part of a water 

 jug, carefully mended. 



Afterwards excavations were made on the main street, where the 

 houses were of a better class, but much less luxurious than the 

 ordinary Roman villa. 



There is reason to think that the town was burned in the time of 

 Constantius Clorus, when it was stormed and afterwards destroyed. 

 There is indication of some re-building after fire. The mortar used 

 within the town was very poor and in contrast to that of the walls. 



Two hypocausts have been disclosed of ordinary character. It is 

 a very curious circumstance that the chief pavements appear to have 

 been carefully taken up and removed — by whom it is impossible to 

 guess. We are familiar with Roman pavements in England which 

 were brought from Italy. Those found at Silchester were probably 

 made in the neighbourhood. Tools used by the workmen in making 

 them have been found. 



The chief interest of the excavations centres in the forum, which 

 measures 276ft. x 313ft., and is now completely excavated. Its 

 shape is that of a parallelogram, and it is surrounded by an ambu- 

 latory or porticoed piazza from 12ft. to 15ft. in width. The walls 

 which enclose the whole area are about 3ft. in thickness. Beneath 

 the forum were discovered the remains of a sewer. 



The area is divided by a wall into two distinct sections, the forum 

 and the basilica. Shops were ranged on either side of the gateway 

 and along the northern side of the courtyard towards the basilica. 

 One had apparently been used as a wine shop, another as a 



1 See, too, "Memoir on Silchester," by Henry Maclauchlan , in the Journal of 

 the Royal Archaeological Institute, vol. viii., pp. 227—243 ; and additional notes 

 by Mr. Albeit Way, pp. 243—246. [Ed.] 



