[Picture: Roman Urns found at Horncastle]
AMONGST the remains of antiquity at this place, the vestiges of the Roman
fortress are the most worthy of attention; and although they are too
small to give an adequate idea of the original structure, are yet
sufficient to show the form and extent of the space enclosed, which
appears to have been nearly a parallelogram, of about six hundred feet in
length, and in breadth three hundred and fifty on the east, and three
hundred on the west. {25} The wall by which this area was surrounded was
fifteen or sixteen feet in thickness, and composed of small blocks of a
loosely aggregated sand stone, dug from the neighbouring hills. It was
formed with casing stones on the outside, the internal parts being filled
up with courses laid diagonally, which according to the customary and
substantial mode of building among the Romans, were run together by
mortar disseminated through the interstices in a fluid state, forming a
cement which has acquired by time an imperishable induration. Of the
casing stones none are now to be seen, except in cellars which have been
formed by the side of the wall. Where the fragments are sufficiently
high, those portions of the Roman masonry, which remained after the
destruction of the fortress, may be perceived rising to about six or
seven feet above the ground, the diagonal courses of stone then ceasing.
Above this the construction is marked by masses of larger dimensions than
the lower parts; a circumstance evincing that another structure of a
different period has been erected on the original foundation: this was
probably a reparation which was made in the time of the Anglo-Saxons. At
the north-east corner of the enclosure the remains of a circular turret
are still visible; but of towers or gateways no traces are left.
Near the junction of the two rivers, on the south-west of the town, was
formerly one of those mazes common to Roman stations, called the Julian
Bower. In these the youth were exercised in a martial game, called Troy
Town, which in after years, though divested of its martial character,
continued to be amongst the healthy pastimes of the young, in their
evening assemblies of pleasure and sport. {26} Cultivation has long
since effaced every vestige of the maze; but the piece of land on which
it stood still retains the name of the _Julian Bower Close_.
A peculiar rustic ceremony, which used annually to be observed at this
place, doubtless derived its origin from the Floral games of antiquity.
On the morning of May-day, when the young of the neighbourhood assembled
to partake in the amusements which ushered in the festivals of the month
of flowers, a train of youths collected themselves at a place to this day
called the _May Bank_. From thence, with wands enwreathed with cowslips,
they walked in procession to the may-pole, situated at the west end of
the town, and adorned on that morning with every variety in the gifts of
Flora. Here, uniting in the wild joy of young enthusiasm, they struck
together their wands, and scattering around the cowslips, testified their
thankfulness for that bounty, which widely diffusing its riches, enabled
them to return home rejoicing at the promises of the opening year. That
innovation in the manners and customs of the country, which has swept
away the ancient pastimes of rustic simplicity, obliterated about forty
years ago this peculiar vestige of the Roman Floralia.
In the fields on the south side of the town, the ground abounds with
fragments of cinerary urns, and several perfect ones have also there been
discovered. From these circumstances, together with the appearance of
the soil, it seems certain that in this part the Romans used to burn
their dead on the funeral pile. Of the urns found, only two are known to
exist in the neighbourhood; one being in the collection of Sir Joseph
Banks, at Revesby Abbey, the other in the possession of Mr. Crowder, an
inhabitant of the town.
It is much to be regretted for the advancement of researches into local
antiquities that the chief part of the urns, coins, fibulæ, and other
Roman vestiges discovered at Horncastle, have been sold to strangers who
have visited the town, or to dealers elsewhere. The coins which have
been found here are numerous, and though chiefly of small brass and
denarii ærei of the lower empire, yet they include many extremely fine
and varied specimens of the earlier imperial coins, both of a larger size
and of other metals, several of which are in the possession of different
individuals in the town. Amongst these may be particularized the silver
coins of Vespasian, L. Septimius Severus, Alexander Severus, and
Volusianus; the large brass of Trajan; and the middle brass of Caligula,
Claudius, Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, Domitian, Antoninus Pius, Faustina the
elder, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and Faustina the younger. The small
brass and denarii ærei form nearly a complete series of the emperors from
Gallienus to Valentinanus the second, and include also within that
period, coins of some of the tyrants of Britain and Gaul. Beside these
are some others in the collection of the late Reverend Charles L’Oste,
now possessed by his son, but unfortunately no memoranda exist by which
they are to be distinguished from those obtained at other places. This
gentleman also had in his collection several fibulæ and stiles which had
been discovered here.
A British coin found at this place has on its concave side the horse and
symbolic circles; on the convex is the representation of an animal
apparently intended for a stag, with similar ornaments around it, as the
other side possesses. Many of the early English silver currency have
been found here, and also a specimen of the Scottish coinage of David the
second.
In deepening the bed of the river Bane, to complete the navigation, in
1802, an ornamental brass spur, part of a brass crucifix, and a dagger,
were found together at a short distance from the north bason of the
navigation. The spur is now lost; the part of the crucifix and the
dagger are in the possession of the author.
[Picture: Ancient British Coin]