and to belong rather to those times when the Roman camps were more exactly, mathematically, and elaborately constructed, than that on Ladlands hill. Independently of this causeway, we have evidences of the occupancy of this parish by the Romans. Mr. Bagford, in a letter dated 1 Feb. 1714-15, and written to Hearne, the celebrated antiquary, says, "At Peckham of late years was dug up in the middle of the highway, a famous glass Roman urn, which I the more willingly take notice of because urns of this kind are rare, and not commonly seen." a In 1690, a Janus's head in marble was discovered near St. Fig. 26. [Janus' head, found near Kent-road.] EXPLANATION. "Andd idy outh ink, de arma dam, top erp lex mew ithaneng lishpre ten dedins cript ion? Iha vebeen con vers antwith puzzlesan dridd lesfr ommy outh Ican not mis tak eitfora nanc ientepi taph, didt heem perorc laudi uscon cer nhim self witht rip e sell ers? Wa simp ingt one ver aro manc ol ony? Apla ineng lishm anw ould ha vew rit ten BENEATH THIS STONE AS JANE. a Bray, iii. 400. IT'S STRANGE HISTORY. 27 Thomas a Watering, in the Kent Road. "I am apt," says the learned and ingenious Dr. Harris, "to fancy it to have been the very Deus terminus which was placed near the ferry at Lambeth, where the roman ways parted. Montfaucon, in his travels, tells us there were several crossways in old Rome, called Jani, where there stood a statue of Janus, usually with two, but sometimes with three, or more faces." a This conjecture, however ingenious it may be, appears to have been formed without any accurate knowledge of the circumstances under which the relic was discovered. The first chapter of its history is given by Defoe, when speaking of the Roman military way leading from the horseferry at Lambeth. At the end of Kent-street, he says, "there was a very strong fortification of stone, the foundations of which were dug up in the year 1685; this ran 'cross a garden, about a quarter of a mile from the Stones-end. In digging up of this foundation, there appeared two ancient pillars of a large gate, upon each of them had been placed heads with two faces curiously cut in stone, one of which was taken up, but the other lying in a quick sand from whence the springs flowed out pretty freely, was rendered more difficult to be taken up; and the curiosity of the people being not very great, they contented themselves with getting up one of the heads, which was placed over the gardener's door, where it remained for several years, until it was known to the learned Dr. Woodward, who purchased it, and kept it in his valuable collection of curiosities." There can be little doubt, from this concise description, that these heads when first discovered retained their original a Hist: Kent. fo. 3. Tour through the whole island of Great Britain, by a Gentleman. 3 Ed. 1742. Vol. I. pp. 234, 5. 28 ANTIQUARIES AT FAULT. position on the piers of a Roman gateway, Janus being considered by that people the god of gates, and symbolically of the opening year. The second head, so little cared for in 1685, that it was allowed to remain in statu quo, appears to have been dug up five years afterwards, when it recalled attention to the first, and was the means of introducing Dr. Woodward's description. This account, though commonly supposed to refer to the last-exhumated relic, probably applies to the other, as it is not likely he possessed both. It is thus translated by Dr. Horseley, "One side represented the countenance of a bearded man, with the horns and ears of a ram: a jewel or other ornament depended on each side of the head which was crowned with laurel. On the opposite side was the countenance of a young woman in ancient head-attire, which, at the same time that it covered the head, projected from it." It was entire, and seemed formerly to have been fixed to a square column or terminus. It was eighteen inches in height." See also Bray iii. 401. THE CAMP AT LADLANDS HILL." MR. BRAY mentions a hill on the south side of the parish called Ladlands Hill, "on which, is an oblong camp surrounding the summit, having a double line of ditch on the south side." b Although he entertains no doubt that this camp was originally a Roman work, he conjectures that it may have been used by the Danes in some of their plundering incursions; or their opponents during the time of the turmoiled king Etheldred, when these troublesome marauders lay "at roade" for two or three years together before Greenwich, whilst their soldiers. for the most part were encamped upon the hill above the town, now called Blackheath. From the Saxon chronicle, it would appear that the ravages of these intruders were very extensive, and their sway by no means despicable. The people of London, even, are said to have cast a jealous eye on the generalissimo of these marauders, "fearing that he would undo them." And indeed he seems to have issued his orders like one who meant to be obeyed. "Then bade Sweyne full gild and forage for his army whilst winter; and Thurkill bade the same for his army that lay on Grenawic. Besides this, they plundered as oft as they would.” This hill, which is best known by the name of Primrose-hill, a In order to guard against any erroneous impressions which might be occasioned by a partial perusal of the following narrative, I may perhaps be allowed to remark that the whole account is a mere piece of special pleading, in which I have brought forward the best arguments I possess, without regarding them as conclusive. My own honest opinion will be found at the close of this chapter. b Bray iii. 401. 30 APPROACH TO THE CAMP. though more classically termed Ladlands, is conjectured by Mr. Lilley, to have been the site of the camp of Suetonius Paulinus when he defeated Voadicea about the year 60, and put four-score thousand britons to the sword. The scene of this battle, though clearly fought within a short distance of the metropolis, has never been satisfactorily decided. It is generally contended to have been at Pentonville, where there certainly were, until lately, very considerable traces of Roman entrenchments. But this locality by no means answers to the description of Tacitus, as is well remarked by an able critic in such matters-the reviewer of Nelson's History of Islington, in the Gentleman's Magazine. In speaking of this place, he observes that "the elevation is far too gentle, and the valley too wide," and recommends us to look for the camp in " some narrow valley connected with Epping-forest-probably near Enfield." The best point from which you can approach the camp is by way of Dog-kennel and Lordship's-lanes. From Grove-hill glebe you have it full before you, cutting the distant horizon with its bold edge, and forming the highest point within the range of view. It will be seen to most advantage by selecting one of our glorious autumn afternoons. On my last visit to the spot at this season of the year, the unwonted brilliancy of the day, the freshness of the air, the many-coloured tints of the foliage, the beautiful atmospheric influences steeping the whole landscape, the picturesque cottages, and suburban villas in the distance, set in the leafy frame formed by the over arching foliage, all combined to interest and affect the feelings in an unusual manner. a Vol. XCIV. 58. It was decided in vestry, 1st March, 1809, that Dog-kennel-lane is a public highway, the liability of the parish to keep it in repair having been disputed up to that period.-Vest. Min. |