59 



#ii a Joman ©ilia, 



DISCOVERED AT NORTH WRAXHALL. 



FIELD at the north-eastern extremity of the Parish of 

 North- Wraxhall in this county -has long been known by the 

 residents in the neighbourhood as the site of a Roman Station or 

 Villa. It has had the name of the Coffin-ground since the begin- 

 ning of the century, about which time a Stone Sarcophagus was 

 dug up in it. This for many years afterwards remained above 

 ground in the middle of the field, till the farmer finding it in his 

 way, broke it up. It contained when found a skeleton at full 

 length, and had a stone cover, but neither sculpture nor inscription, 

 being rudely hewn out of the freestone of the neighbourhood. 



A surface of this field, measuring some three acres in area, and 

 forming the brow of a steep wooded slope adjacent to the parish of 

 Castle Combe on the north, is strewn over with fragments of stone- 

 tile, burnt- tile, black, red, and blue pottery, and other infallible 

 indications of the former existence there of buildings belonging to 

 the Roman Era. In the course of the last autumn the farm, 

 which is the property of Lord Methuen, passed into the hands of a 

 new Tenant, who finding the stones in the way of his plough, 

 employed labourers to remove them. In this way several walls, 

 evidently belonging to the chambers of a building, were exposed, 

 and a little further exploration brought to light the rooms marked 

 A and B on the plan. 



Mr. Poulett Scrope, who had watched these proceedings with 

 interest, communicated with Lord Methuen, and was requested by 

 his Lordship to undertake the direction of further excavations. 

 Four men were set to work and in the course of a few weeks had 

 uncovered the foundation walls of one continuous oblong building, 

 measuring about 180 feet by 36, and containing some sixteen or 

 more different rooms or inclosures. (See Plan). 



