Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/223

ON THE CITY OP ANDERIDA, OR ANDREDESCEASTER. 205 remarked, that not a single particular is mentioned affording the smallest clue to the situation of Andredecester, except that the city nuist have been very closely surrounded by a forest, which we may safely assume to be the great forest of Ande- rida or Andredcsweald ; and it is generally admitted to have stood westward froui the straits of Dover : ])ut beyond this we know absolutely nothing. Our business therefore must be to examine what assistance the character of Andredescester itself, as learned from the account of it just quoted, wdll afford in determining its probable position. The name then indicates that this was, or had been, a Roman settlement, the termination " cester," Latin, castrum, a camp, always implying such a fact. And if it w^as a per- manent Roman station, we may be certain that it possessed marks of Roman occupation, in the existence there of walls constructed with stone and lime. We should also advert to Henry of Huntingdon's observation, that Andredecester was " a very strong city — urbem nuuiitissimam ;" which indeed was evinced by the obstinate resistance of the inhabitants op- posed to their Saxon invaders. And lastly, that the city was extensive appears an inference equally clear from the statement of the numbers which collected for its defence, as well as for the attack. Therefore, though positive information fails us, we perceive there is reason to believe, that Andredescester was a large and well fortified Roman city ; consequently, that the spot where it stood is quite as likely to contain at the present day some signs of Roman domination, as any of those numerous places in this kingdom, Avherein undisputed traces remain of Roman ascendancy. Our next attempt shall be to enquire how far the situation of any of the localities, to which the site of Anderida is con- jecturally assigned, will answer to Henry of Huntingdon's description ; and especially what vestiges of Roman build- ings we can find there. These localities amount to eight ; namely, Newenden in Kent, Arundel, East Bourne, Chi- chester, Hastings, Newhaven, Pevensey, and Seaford, in Sussex. Upon all these places it will be necessary to make some remarks. 1. Camden, it is understood, was the first to pronounce an opinion in favour of Newenden ; and his authority upon such questions is justly great. Still his expressions declare only VOL. IV. EC