DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6911#0101
DOMESTIC, OR CIVIL ARCHITECTURE.
69
respect, to illustrate and develope the arts, customs, and polity of that people during
their residence in this island. Such account would necessarily be copious, and
might be deemed by some readers not sufficiently analogous to the subject now
under discussion. Of the architectural remains which are■ considered to be purely
Anglo-Roman, it will be expedient, and strictly proper, to give a concise account.
At Bath, or Aquae Solis, several considerable parts of buildings have been discovered
at different times; some of which are carefully and laudably preserved by the cor-
poration of that city. These consist of fragments of columns, pilasters, cornices,
friezes, pediments, &c. with sculptured stones and inscriptions. Mr. Lysons con-
jectures that the former belonged to two temples, respectively dedicated to Minerva
and Sul-minerva; that the first was erected in the time of Titus, soon after the
Romans "obtained a permanent footing in the southern part of Britain ;" that it was
of the Corinthian order, and that the capitals of the columns resemble those of the
three columns in the Campo Vaccino at Rome. The inscription on the frieze of
the portico,—though much mutilated,—indicates that the building, having suffered
decay from "great age," had been repaired. In the handsome work already re-
ferred to, the learned author has given a restored elevation of this portico; and
another of the front of the " Temple, or Chapel," dedicated to Sul-minerva. The
composition and external character of these are simply elegant, and serve to shew
the state of design in the Roman architecture and sculpture as executed in this
country. From these we may infer, that other similar buildings were erected in
Hritain; but I cannot believe, or assert, with Mr. Carter, that the architectural
works of the Romans in this country " rivalled Rome itself in magnificence."
The ancient remains in the capital of the Roman empire are numerous, magnificent
in scale, and much enriched in ornament: but very few of this description have
hitherto been found in England. Columns, capitals, and other large members
of buildings, when executed in stone, are not subject to speedy decay, are
not calculated to be consumed, or likely to be converted to uses very dissimilar
to their original destination. Whence we shall be inclined to believe, that the
Romans did not erect many stone edifices in this country ; but that they
chiefly employed factitious bricks, or tiles. Immense quantities of these are
remaining at most of the principal stations; and fragments of walls, composed
almost entirely of them, are standing at Leicester, Lincoln, &c. All the Roman
pavements and sudatories which have been uncovered, consist mostly of a
K. VOL. II.
69
respect, to illustrate and develope the arts, customs, and polity of that people during
their residence in this island. Such account would necessarily be copious, and
might be deemed by some readers not sufficiently analogous to the subject now
under discussion. Of the architectural remains which are■ considered to be purely
Anglo-Roman, it will be expedient, and strictly proper, to give a concise account.
At Bath, or Aquae Solis, several considerable parts of buildings have been discovered
at different times; some of which are carefully and laudably preserved by the cor-
poration of that city. These consist of fragments of columns, pilasters, cornices,
friezes, pediments, &c. with sculptured stones and inscriptions. Mr. Lysons con-
jectures that the former belonged to two temples, respectively dedicated to Minerva
and Sul-minerva; that the first was erected in the time of Titus, soon after the
Romans "obtained a permanent footing in the southern part of Britain ;" that it was
of the Corinthian order, and that the capitals of the columns resemble those of the
three columns in the Campo Vaccino at Rome. The inscription on the frieze of
the portico,—though much mutilated,—indicates that the building, having suffered
decay from "great age," had been repaired. In the handsome work already re-
ferred to, the learned author has given a restored elevation of this portico; and
another of the front of the " Temple, or Chapel," dedicated to Sul-minerva. The
composition and external character of these are simply elegant, and serve to shew
the state of design in the Roman architecture and sculpture as executed in this
country. From these we may infer, that other similar buildings were erected in
Hritain; but I cannot believe, or assert, with Mr. Carter, that the architectural
works of the Romans in this country " rivalled Rome itself in magnificence."
The ancient remains in the capital of the Roman empire are numerous, magnificent
in scale, and much enriched in ornament: but very few of this description have
hitherto been found in England. Columns, capitals, and other large members
of buildings, when executed in stone, are not subject to speedy decay, are
not calculated to be consumed, or likely to be converted to uses very dissimilar
to their original destination. Whence we shall be inclined to believe, that the
Romans did not erect many stone edifices in this country ; but that they
chiefly employed factitious bricks, or tiles. Immense quantities of these are
remaining at most of the principal stations; and fragments of walls, composed
almost entirely of them, are standing at Leicester, Lincoln, &c. All the Roman
pavements and sudatories which have been uncovered, consist mostly of a
K. VOL. II.