392 



Silchester. 



fishmonger's, another as a butcher's (in which were found flesh hooks 

 and the remains of steelyards), another had been a poulterer's. 



The basilica was a noble building with a well- defined apsidal end 

 on the south. On one side were several large rooms. One was the 

 serarium or treasury or public record room — seals were found there. 

 Along the eastern side was a row of columns with foliated capitals. 



The hall of justice was 60ft. in breadth, by 276ft. in length, and 

 all along one side there is an interior foundation, seemingly for the 

 support of the stone pillars of a gallery for an audience. In one of 

 the small rooms to the left of the basilica was found a Roman 

 legionary eagle. It is now at Strathfieldsaye. The golden wings 

 had been wrenched off, and the bronze body was found beneath lOin. 

 of burnt wood. 



The remains of a sixteen-sided temple have been disclosed of about 

 60ft. in diameter. It is surrounded by an ambulatory, but there 

 are no traces of columns, nor has any altar been found. 



I should have mentioned that in one of the houses there was found 

 the remains of a strong box. 



The parish Church of St. Mary, Silchester, is built within the 

 walls. It was restored in 1877. There are some Norman columns, 

 a carved oak screen, two piscinae, two aumbries, a tomb under a re- 

 cessed arch, and on the top of the Roman wall close by are effigies, one 

 military and one of a lady, which most likely came from the Church. 



There is a museum within the city walls in which are some articles 

 found during the excavations, and plans of the basilica. 



A useful guide, price one shilling — from which I have borrowed 

 freely — may be had of the curator. 1 



The cemetery has not been discovered. 



I do not think I can say more that will be useful to you, and I 

 can but wish you success when you get to the site in recognizing 

 the various excavations, for that is the chief difficulty, practically. 

 If you do that you cannot fail to enjoy your visit. 



1 The Editor desires to record his obligations to Mr. Jacob, of Basingstoke, the 

 spirited publisher of the above-named admirable guide, for his ready permission 

 to reproduce the Plan of Silchester given herewith, and to make other use of the 

 guide. 



