EXTINCT MAMMALIA.

21

Nor is the after history of the soil less curious or interesting. From the remains of huge extinct mammalia discovered in our own neighbourhood and in other places where the same geological deposit prevails, it appears tolerably certain that this country was once tenanted by gigantic creatures assimilating to the elephant, the tapir, or the rhinoceros. Of these, the Palæotherium magnum, or as the word signifies in plain English, the large, ancient wild beast, an animal allied to the Lophiodon, whose tooth I have before described, is represented below.

ROMAN ERA.

IT has been already remarked that the whole district between Peckham and Bermondsey is one unbroken level. A canal, indeed, without locks, such as that in the North-field, must indicate the present high-water mark of the Thames, which used at one time to fill the neighbouring ditches."

The construction of the dyke or wall, still called Galley wall, on the northern skirts of the parish, and of the Roman causeway, to be presently noticed more at length, go far to prove that at one period this level was a vast fresh-water bay. Nor is it improbable that the ditch embanked by the first of these works, derived its name at a time when it was navigable for the galleys which entered it for the sake of discharging their cargoes.

b

There is little doubt that Bermund's-eye (Bermondsey) on the one hand, and Patrick's-eye (Battersea) on the other, were both, at one time, insulated, and received their names from this circumstance-ait or eye formerly signifying an island. Farther to the southward we have Herne-hill, supposed by an ingenious writer, though perhaps fancifully, to have derived its name from having been the resort and breeding-place of the herons or herns frequenting this expanse of waters. The spot on which the new church of St. Mary Magdalen is erected, has long borne the name of the Duck's nest; and it is not

a Bray, from information communicated by Mr. Lilley.

For this suggestion and for many others, of value and interest, I am indebted to the kindness of S. J. Lilley, Esq. of Peckham.

Thomas Cromwell, Esq. author of "Oliver Cromwell and his times," &c. d This is still the provincial pronunciation. Tre-hearne bears three herons. The title deeds to this property, which are of very ancient date, describe it always under that name; as I am kindly informed by the late owner W.Edmonds, Esq.

improbable that both these birds might have had their haunts in the neighbourhood, especially as I find "libera waren,' amongst the rights of the early lords of Hatcham, Camberwell," and Lambeth." The birds of the warren were divided into land and waterfowl; the first of these classes being subdivided according to their customary haunts in the wood or meadow. The quail, the rail, the pheasant, the woodcock, the mallard, and the heron are especially mentioned.

Amongst the various etymologies of the name of our great metropolis, that which derives it from Llyn Dun-the town of the lake-is as reasonable as any. For a great variety of evidence might be collected to prove that the vast flat between our own parish, and Rotherhithe, was formerly covered with the waters of the Thames.

It is probable that these waters at one time extended to Peckham-rye. In old maps, the name of that place is written "Rey." Hollingshed derives the name of Reading, in Berkshire, from "rhe or ree," the saxon word for a water-course or river, which, says he, "may be seen in Overee or Sutheree; for over the ree, or south of the rhee, as to the skilful doth readilie appeare." The terme rhe, he further affirms, "applies not only to the course of everie water itselfe; but also his overflowing was, in time past called rhe by such Saxons as inhabited in this island: and even to this daie in Essex, I have oft observed that when the lower grounds by rage of water have been overflowen, the people beholding the same have said 'all is on a rhe:' as if they should have said, 'all is now a river.''

Sir Christopher Wren who had ample means of information, while prosecuting his great architectural works in London and

a Esch. 23. Ed. 1. &c.

As it is also by Harris: Hist. Kent, p. 3.

d Chron. I. 45. b. 70.

e Ib. 46. 10. a.

Cart. 18 Ed, 1. n. 2.

its environs, held the opinion referred to, to which Pennant seems, also, to have subscribed. To these conjectures may be added the geological and philological proofs adduced; which seem clearly to establish the point. The documents connected with the first of these are, so to speak, interleaved between earlier and later evidences, and thus refer this state of things to the period we are treating of; whilst the latter having principally to do with British or Saxon names, tend to shew that it continued down to what we may almost call our own times.

Across this morass, the Romans appear to have constructed with immense labour a causeway of squared chalk, strengthened and supported by stout piles of timber. No traces of this were evident above ground, but during the excavations made by the Surrey Canal Company in 1809, a considerable portion of it was laid open, and about four or five hundred cart loads of chalk were removed. It ran in a north-easterly direction across the marshes, from the Kent-road to the Thames at Rotherhithe; was about fifteen feet wide, and "extended about two hundred and fifty yards,"" being flanked, as we have said, with stout oaken piles in excellent preservation. From one of these, the late venerable historian of Surrey, William Bray, Esq. of Shire, caused a handsome pen-tray to be manufactured, which he presented to Mr. Samuel J. Lilley of Peckham, in acknowledgment of much valuable literary assistance received from him in the progress of his great work. This interesting relic consists of an oblong double pen-tray with two elegant vase-shaped inkstands, and an antique lamp in the centre. It is of fine brown oak, and bears a good polish; an inscription surrounds the stand to this effect—" Cut out of an oak pile in a causeway through Camberwell marshes,

probably made by the Romans, discovered 1809." A duplicate is in the possession of the Society of Antiquaries.

This causeway, Bray supposed to have been connected with the camp on Ladlands hill, at the back of which he fancied he could trace its course towards Sydenham hill; and thence conjectured that it ran to Woodcote, the supposed Noviomagus of the Romans. If it exist at all in that neighbourhood, it must be looked for in the middle section of the road leading from Forest-hill to the summit of Dulwich wood, which is straight, firm, broad, level, clearly distinguishable from the quagmire at either extremity, and not unlike a Roman work."

It does not appear probable that this connection existed. The causeway seems to indicate great discipline and resources,

The following jeu d'esprit came into my possession about fifteen years ago, having been handed me by a lady, the presumed writer of it. It is one of a numerous class of jokes, latterly in great vogue, and is got up with considerable ingenuity. The answer is by another hand.

ROMAN INSCRIPTION FOUND NEAR LADLANDS HILL.

"The stone which bears the following inscription was found in the old Roman road leading from Sydenham Common to the bottom of Forest Hill. The inscription appears to have some reference to the Emperor Claudian, but whether it be an Epitaph or part of a Triumphal inscription is not ascertained. Antiquarians have suspected that some words prior to the word Bene' have been lost, together with the upper part of the stone. The letters in the original are very much worn, and the HI in the fourth line from the bottom has been thought to be the numeral III.