ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
567 
of former disturbance of the ground down to the natural level, 
and a cavity, which might, not improbably, have once contained 
a sepulchral urn. 
It occurs to me also to mention in this place (though their 
origin, nature, and purpose is obscure) that, immediately to the 
south-west of the five tumuli on the Blackmoor Eidge, over- 
looking Woolmer Pond, are a series of ancient parallel trenches 
(six or seven in number), of some depth, running nearly north 
and south from the top of the ridge down to the present high 
road. They are certainly not the result of natural or artificial 
drainage ; and from their number and proximity to each other, 
they can hardly represent ancient tracks or ways. Whether 
they could, under any circumstances, have been intended for 
military defence, I do not know. 
From the pottery and other remains found at and near Black- 
moor House, it may be concluded with certainty that, on or 
close to that site, there once stood Eoman or Roman- British 
buildings of som.e im^Dortance ; and the name of the adjoining 
parish, Greatham, may perhaps indicate the situation (at least 
as early as Saxon times) of a hamlet or village more consider- 
able than others in that neighbourhood. Mr. Sewell, in his letter 
of 1777 already referred to, speaks of Eoman and British 
entrenchments, as visible at that time on Headley Heath and 
Common ; and he also describes, as a known historical event 
(I know not on what authority), a march by Vespasian, as 
General under Claudius, about a.d. 47, from the neighbourhood 
of London towards Porchester, Southampton, and the Isle of 
Wight, by way of Headley and Woolmer ; adding, that he 
(Vespasian) then fixed, at or near Woolmer Pond, " an abiding- 
station or city, which remained near 150 years ; when they seem 
to have been expelled thence by the Britons, or perhaps by 
an earthquake, or some other cause." I have not myself met 
with any mention of what Mr. Sewell calls " the Eoman city 
or station of Wulmere in Hants," in any writer, ancient or 
modern, with whose works I am acquainted ; and it is possible 
(as the end of the period of "near 150 years," which he assigns 
for its continuance, coincides with the time of Commodus, whose 
coins were the latest which had been found in Woolmer Pond) 
