DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13856#0046
38
'Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the
in that direction. Further, such area defined as we have seen the position of
trifinia or quadrifinia, and a singular illustration of this may be seen in the
Walbrook discovery. A reference to our map will show that its position is
close to the fine of junction between the three wards of Cornhill, Walbrook, and
Cheap, and, viewed in this light, a curious confirmation is afforded of the
view that the " regions " of the old Roman city are identical with, or at least the
precursors of, the ward divisions of our own time. The area is sufficiently near
to the line of boundary if not actually upon it; it is not necessary for it to appear
at the precise spot. We are explicitly told that the presence of such a monument
indicates that we are to look for a boundary in the vicinity, and in some places
that the symbolical area was placed outside the limits. Its preservation also on
the eastern bank after the great extension of the City in a westerly direction
may be also explained. In the occupation of new territory it was not necessary
that all old landmarks should be removed. Hyginus tells us how such boundaries
became extended, and refers to the difference between the ancient allotments and
the new. He illustrates this by one of the provinces in Campania. In
Minturnensium the later limits were beyond the river Litis. In assigning the
land on the opposite side of the river, the old termini were left, in order that a
record of the limit should be preserved.*
The presence of these two monuments on the line of Walbrook leads to the
inference that we mav look for other relics of like character and intention at
v
other places along the line of the embankment; at present however these appear
to be the only instances of which we can preserve a record as connected with
our own city. In the country such remains have been also found, and many of
them serve as important illustrations to the truth of the foregoing observations.
A selection is here given, some of which have been generously contributed
by H. C. Coote, F.S.A. to whom so much credit is due as having been the
first among English antiquaries to publish his researches in this direction, and
thus invite attention to a most important subject of inquiry. In the following
account of a discovery at Biddenham, in Bedfordshire, an illustration is afforded
of the estimation in which this class of monument was held by the immense
labour and trouble which must have been expended on such a singular deposition
of objects as are described.
* " Ubi jam oportuna finium oommutatione relictis prima? assignations terminis, more arcifinio possi-
deretur. Hyginus de Limit, constit."—Lachman, p. 178.
'Roman Antiquities recently discovered on the site of the
in that direction. Further, such area defined as we have seen the position of
trifinia or quadrifinia, and a singular illustration of this may be seen in the
Walbrook discovery. A reference to our map will show that its position is
close to the fine of junction between the three wards of Cornhill, Walbrook, and
Cheap, and, viewed in this light, a curious confirmation is afforded of the
view that the " regions " of the old Roman city are identical with, or at least the
precursors of, the ward divisions of our own time. The area is sufficiently near
to the line of boundary if not actually upon it; it is not necessary for it to appear
at the precise spot. We are explicitly told that the presence of such a monument
indicates that we are to look for a boundary in the vicinity, and in some places
that the symbolical area was placed outside the limits. Its preservation also on
the eastern bank after the great extension of the City in a westerly direction
may be also explained. In the occupation of new territory it was not necessary
that all old landmarks should be removed. Hyginus tells us how such boundaries
became extended, and refers to the difference between the ancient allotments and
the new. He illustrates this by one of the provinces in Campania. In
Minturnensium the later limits were beyond the river Litis. In assigning the
land on the opposite side of the river, the old termini were left, in order that a
record of the limit should be preserved.*
The presence of these two monuments on the line of Walbrook leads to the
inference that we mav look for other relics of like character and intention at
v
other places along the line of the embankment; at present however these appear
to be the only instances of which we can preserve a record as connected with
our own city. In the country such remains have been also found, and many of
them serve as important illustrations to the truth of the foregoing observations.
A selection is here given, some of which have been generously contributed
by H. C. Coote, F.S.A. to whom so much credit is due as having been the
first among English antiquaries to publish his researches in this direction, and
thus invite attention to a most important subject of inquiry. In the following
account of a discovery at Biddenham, in Bedfordshire, an illustration is afforded
of the estimation in which this class of monument was held by the immense
labour and trouble which must have been expended on such a singular deposition
of objects as are described.
* " Ubi jam oportuna finium oommutatione relictis prima? assignations terminis, more arcifinio possi-
deretur. Hyginus de Limit, constit."—Lachman, p. 178.