DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0014
st. botolph's church, essex.
3
was struck, and inscribed on the reverse, col. camalodon. avg.* with two oxen,
&c A temple and altar were also erected in his name ; and a theatre, with other
public works, were progressively raised, to suit the convenience, customs, and
luxuries of the Roman people.
The revolutions of ages, and the desolating power of war, have nearly annihilated
all these and numerous subsequent buildings ; yet the quantity of coins, urns, pave-
ments, and other vestiges that are frequently found, is a satisfactory evidence of the
Romans having a settled residence here. Nor can we doubt, but that their buildings
corresponded with these pavements, and with the general state of the arts at that
period. The Anglo-Saxons, afterwards possessing the same place, would conse-
quently occupy, or imitate such buildings, and more especially those that were ap-
propriated to the purposes of religion. " History informs us," (observes Mr. Carter,
in his work on Ancient Architecture,) "that the Roman temples were overthrown
in this country by the converts to Christianity, who raised on their ruins Christian
Churches, of which tradition has handed down to us many instances, particularly in
the Abbey Churches of Westminster and Bath." This of St. Botolph, it is probable,
was similarly founded ; as in 1738, several Roman urns, with a lamp, some pieces of
melted metal, and two coins of Domitian, were discovered just within St. Botolph's Gate.
After the departure of the Romans, and particularly under the Saxon, Danish,
and early Norman Dynasties, this town was distressed by repeated sieges, and
frequently dilapidated by contending armies. Its fortifications and monastic
buildings must inevitably have suffered in these conflicts. Among the ancient
religious edifices,^ which were erected at Colchester, the Priory Church of St.
Botolph presents the most considerable remains. This singular and curious structure
becomes eminently interesting to the architectural antiquary, from its style of building,
the materials employed, and the period of its erection. Composed almost entirely
of Roman bricks, or wall-tiles, with arches, columns, and piers, nearly resembling
* See Camden's Britannia, and Morant's History of Colchester, for engraved representations of various coins,
&c. found here. From an examination of the latter work, and a personal survey of Colchester and Maiden, there
can be no hesitation in decidedly fixing the Camalodunum of the Romans at the former place. Dion Cassius
expressly mentions it as the residence of the British King Cunobeline. Various gold, silver, and brass coins have
been found here, inscribed cvno. and cvnob. on one side, and cam. or camv. on the other.—Speed's History of
(ireat Britain, chap. VI.
t Of St. John's Abbey, which was a large building founded in this town about 1096, and richly endowed, only
the entrance gate-way, and some fragments of walls remain. Besides these, here was a convent of Crouched
Friars, and another of Grey Friars ; also St. Mary Magdalen's Hospital.
3
was struck, and inscribed on the reverse, col. camalodon. avg.* with two oxen,
&c A temple and altar were also erected in his name ; and a theatre, with other
public works, were progressively raised, to suit the convenience, customs, and
luxuries of the Roman people.
The revolutions of ages, and the desolating power of war, have nearly annihilated
all these and numerous subsequent buildings ; yet the quantity of coins, urns, pave-
ments, and other vestiges that are frequently found, is a satisfactory evidence of the
Romans having a settled residence here. Nor can we doubt, but that their buildings
corresponded with these pavements, and with the general state of the arts at that
period. The Anglo-Saxons, afterwards possessing the same place, would conse-
quently occupy, or imitate such buildings, and more especially those that were ap-
propriated to the purposes of religion. " History informs us," (observes Mr. Carter,
in his work on Ancient Architecture,) "that the Roman temples were overthrown
in this country by the converts to Christianity, who raised on their ruins Christian
Churches, of which tradition has handed down to us many instances, particularly in
the Abbey Churches of Westminster and Bath." This of St. Botolph, it is probable,
was similarly founded ; as in 1738, several Roman urns, with a lamp, some pieces of
melted metal, and two coins of Domitian, were discovered just within St. Botolph's Gate.
After the departure of the Romans, and particularly under the Saxon, Danish,
and early Norman Dynasties, this town was distressed by repeated sieges, and
frequently dilapidated by contending armies. Its fortifications and monastic
buildings must inevitably have suffered in these conflicts. Among the ancient
religious edifices,^ which were erected at Colchester, the Priory Church of St.
Botolph presents the most considerable remains. This singular and curious structure
becomes eminently interesting to the architectural antiquary, from its style of building,
the materials employed, and the period of its erection. Composed almost entirely
of Roman bricks, or wall-tiles, with arches, columns, and piers, nearly resembling
* See Camden's Britannia, and Morant's History of Colchester, for engraved representations of various coins,
&c. found here. From an examination of the latter work, and a personal survey of Colchester and Maiden, there
can be no hesitation in decidedly fixing the Camalodunum of the Romans at the former place. Dion Cassius
expressly mentions it as the residence of the British King Cunobeline. Various gold, silver, and brass coins have
been found here, inscribed cvno. and cvnob. on one side, and cam. or camv. on the other.—Speed's History of
(ireat Britain, chap. VI.
t Of St. John's Abbey, which was a large building founded in this town about 1096, and richly endowed, only
the entrance gate-way, and some fragments of walls remain. Besides these, here was a convent of Crouched
Friars, and another of Grey Friars ; also St. Mary Magdalen's Hospital.