Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/214

118 REMAINS OF THE ANGLO-ROMAN AGE. of Castle-acre. I was told by several of the labourers, that every year, when they plough this spot, it is usual to turn up several pieces of old coin, chiefly copper, and of that mixed metal known by the name of Corinthian brass. Some pieces of gold have likewise been found. One of these honest countrymen told me that some pieces had a great deal of reading upon them. It is probable, therefore, that medals were deposited here as well as coin. A gold chain was likewise found, which the discoverer sold to a black- smith of Reading. Many of the coins were collected for the present Mr. Vansittart s father, and for another gentleman, a lover of virtu, whose name I have forgot. These plough- men generally give them to their children for playthings. They report that the highway to London formerly lay across this field, whence probably the name of High-rood,^ or Highroad." 9 All these facts, combined with the assurance that these in- teresting remains were still in statu quo underground, induced me to investigate them during the months of May and June, 1847. The building occupied nearly a month in excavation, by two labourers, and when completely cleared, there was exposed to view a perfect octagon, enclosing another smaller, and of the same shape. My kind friend, Mr. Buckler, inspected the whole, and has been so good as to furnish me with remarks upon it, and the dimensions, as well as a ground-plan from his careful pencil : I am fortu- nate in being able to subjoin them, on so good an archi- tectural authority.^ (See the accompanying plan and sec- tions.) Mr. Buckler observes, " It does not appear, from what I have found, that the walls were bonded with brick- work." ^ He gives the following dimensions : — " Height of walls, 8 feet ; thickness, 3 feet G inches ; distance apart, 1 feet 4 inches ; diameter of inner octagon, including thick- ness of walls, 35 feet 11 inches ; extreme diameter, 63 feet ^ Ashmolo, also, makes Wcycock signify thanks to tlio noble possessor of this an- the Hi{;li-roacl, vol. ii., p. 431. cient site for the liberality which has thus '■> liiblioth. Topogr. iJrit., vol. iv., p. 1.35. enabled them to lay before the members ' The Society is indebted to the kind- of the Institute these memorials of a very ness of Lord Braybrooke for the accoin- singular structure. — Ed. panying illustrations, representing the - The two courses, which in the annexed gi'ound-jdan, with a section of the entire woodcut have the appearance of w-all-tiles remains, as also of a portion of the foundiu or bonding-bi'icks at the outer face of the tion walls, showing their construction. work, were formed, as it is stated, of thin The Committee desire to express their slabs of stone.