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up. Antiquarian research had corroborated these casual 
excavations ; and from those researches it was evident that 
the ruined town was that mentioned by Roman writers, under 
the name of Uriconium. It stood at the junction of two 
roads, now known as the Watling Street Roads. The estate 
on which these vestiges have been found belongs to the Duke 
of Cleveland, and the excavations were commenced about 
a year and a half ago, with the concurrence and approval 
of the noble owner. Many difficulties, however, were thrown 
in the way by the tenant, but these have now been removed, 
and in addition to the two acres originally granted by the 
Duke, two others have been placed at the disposal of the 
excavators at a rent. The part already excavated lay a 
little to the east of the village, and it has resulted in most 
important discoveries. 
The site of the ancient town is marked distinctly by a 
mound covering the foundations of the Town wall, round the 
whole circuit of Wroxeter, and a large piece of a Roman wall 
was also visible near the centre of the town. The first 
attempts to explore the ground were made, and the excava- 
tions commenced, on the north side of this wall. The ancient 
town has evidently been one of considerable importance, for 
the site is one mile and three quarters long, and one mile 
broad. It is also evident, from the excavations and researches 
which have been made, that the town had been destroyed by 
those barbarous tribes, whether Saxons, Scots, or Picts, which, 
after the departure of the Romans, devastated the country. 
From the indications of fire found in all directions, there 
is no doubt that the town has been burnt, and from the 
number, sex, and position of the skeletons, there is as 
little doubt that the inhabitants had been massacred 
in the sacking of the town by the barbarians. In one 
of the rooms were found a number of skeletons, scattered 
here and there, as if the inhabitants had been trying to 
