The Ruins Of The Roman City Of Uriconium, At Wroxeter, Near Shrewsbury

THE RUINS OF THE ROMAN CITY OF Uriconium, AT WROXETER, NEAR SHREWSBURY.

BY THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ., M.A., F.S.A. Fourth Edition, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. SHREWSBURY: J. O. SANDFORD, HIGH-STREET. LONDON: KENT &amp; CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1863....

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PREFACE.

It is the aim of the following pages to give the degree and kind of popular information believed to be wanted by the numerous visitors to the excavations at Wroxeter, who have no Guide to explain what they see, and are not possessed of that amount of minute antiquarian knowledge which would enable them to understand everything without such explanation. It is the first instance in which there has been, in this country, the chance of penetrating into a city of more than fourteen centuries ago, on

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TO VISITORS.

Parties from a distance wishing to visit the ruins of the ancient Uriconium , at Wroxeter, will find every comfort and accommodation at the Lion, the Raven, the George, and the Crown Hotels, Shrewsbury. Wroxeter is a little more than five miles from Shrewsbury. Conveyances may be obtained at the Railway Station, Shrewsbury; at any of the above-named Hotels; and at Howells’s Livery Stables, Cross Hill. Parties of any reasonable number may be conveyed by either of the latter, on giving them two

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List of Plates.

FROM DRAWINGS BY MR. HILLARY DAVIES, OF SHREWSBURY. PLATE The North Side of the Old Wall, at Wroxeter 1 Wroxeter Church, Shropshire (Vignette) 2 First Roman Hypocaust discovered at Uriconium in 1859 3 Roman Tile-Roof, Roman Flag-Roof, Section of Roman Hypocaust, &amp;c. 4 Plan of Walls, discovered by the Excavations at Wroxeter, Salop, from February 3rd to September, 1863 5 Column in the Garden of W. H. Oatley, Esq., Wroxeter 6 Ancient Stone Font in Wroxeter Church 7 Capitals found at Uricon

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The Ruins of Uriconium.

If we leave Shrewsbury by its long eastern suburb, known, from the important monastic house which formerly stood at its commencement, as the Abbey Foregate, passing the more modern monument erected at its extremity, Lord Hill’s Column, our way lies for about two miles along the London road, bounded on each side by rich and fertile fields. At the distance just mentioned, this road approaches close to the river Severn, and continues to run along its banks, to the great improvement of the scenery,

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I. OBJECTS CONNECTED WITH THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

1. Roofing flags, of micaceous sandstone, form generally hexagonal, with a hole for the nail.— See pl. IV ., fig. 1. 2. Tiles of various kinds:—small square tiles, flue-tiles, roof-tiles, &amp;c. Large oblong square tiles for bonding-courses in the walls, &amp;c. Square tiles for making the pillars in the hypocausts. 3. Specimens of the concrete which covered the hypocaust, to the depth of eight inches or more, forming the floor of the apartment. 4. Eight different specimens of the

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II. OBJECTS FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES.

1. Pottery :— a . Samian ware. b . Upchurch pottery. c . Durobrivian pottery. d . Romano-Salopian ware, made of clay obtained from Broseley. e . Pieces of red earthenware, probably made in Shropshire. 2. Glass :— a . Fragments of flat or window glass. b . Portions of bottles, &amp;c., generally coloured, some opalescent. c . Fragments of a cup, ornamented with spots of deep purple glass. d . One green glass bottle, 6½ inches high, with narrow neck, found in the cemetery, quite ent

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III. IMPLEMENTS AND UTENSILS.

1. Weights: one in lead, 20¼oz.; another in stone, 11½oz. Weight in lead, marked ii., weighs 2¼oz.; another also in lead, weighs 2½oz. 2. Ladle; and neck of some vessel made of block tin. 3. Several keys, of different forms. Iron padlock. 4. Large shackles, chains, &amp;c., of iron. 5. Knives, spear-heads, and portions of other weapons. Two axe-heads. Bone handle of a sword, very curious . 6. Several whet-stones. Stone handle to a knife. Touchstone. 7. Iron trident. 8. Rings of

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IV.

1. Hair pins, in great variety; more than 30 specimens have been found made usually of bone; with some of bronze, but these are much more slender. Pl. 11. 2. Bodkins or needles made of bone. 3. Fibulæ, and buckles in great variety. 4. Bracelets or armlets, and brooch. 5. Bronze studs or buttons, some flat, and others very convex. 6. Finger rings:— a . silver; b . yellow bronze; c . bronze, with iron wire; d . bronze, with open work on one side; e . fragment of one of wood; f . iron signet

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V. MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS.

Medicine Stamp , found at Wroxeter in 1808, by Mr. Upton; purchased from his family in 1859, by the late Beriah Botfield, Esq., M.P., who presented it to the Museum. 1. Oyster shells in great number; shells of some nut found in an oyster shell. 2. Remains of small animals and birds. 3. Nondescript articles in iron, shapeless masses of lead, innumerable fragments of pottery, bone, &amp;c. 4. Fragments of horn and bone which have been cut with a saw or other tool. 5. Fragments of bone, wh

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Human Remains.

1. Parts of three human skeletons found in the hypocaust B . Two of the skulls are almost entire, and one is broken into fragments. The latter is remarkable for its great thickness. One of the two former from its form, is most probably the head of a female, and the bones of the pelvis of one skeleton are also characteristic of the female sex. One jaw-bone must have belonged to a very old person, as not only the teeth but even the sockets are gone. One hundred and thirty-two coins were foun

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APPENDIX.

On November the 11th, 1858, at the General Meeting of the Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society, held at the Museum, Shrewsbury, the President, Beriah Botfield, Esq., M.P., proposed that excavations should be commenced at Wroxeter. He had written to the Duke of Cleveland, and obtained his Grace’s consent to do so. He also made the very liberal offer to give fifty guineas towards the expenses, provided that fifty other gentlemen could be found willing to subscribe o

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Plate 1: The north side of the Old Wall at Wroxeter

Plate 1. The north side of the Old Wall at Wroxeter...

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Plate 2: Wroxeter Church, Shropshire (Vignette)

Plate 2: Wroxeter Church, Shropshire (Vignette)...

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Plate 3: First Roman Hypocaust Discovered at Uriconium 1859

First Roman Hypocaust Discovered at Uriconium...

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Plate 4: Roman Tile-Roof, Roman Flag-Roof, Section of Roman Hypocaust, &c.

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4: Roman Tile Roof; Figures 5 and 6: Roman Flag Roof; Figure 7: Section of Roman Hypocaust...

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Plate 5: Plan of Walls, discovered by the Excavations at Wroxeter, Salop, from February 3rd to September, 1863.

Plan of Walls, discovered by the Excavations at Wroxeter, Salop, from February 3rd to September, 1863...

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Plate 6: Column in the garden of W. H. Oatley Esq., Wroxeter

Column in the garden of W. H. Oatley Esq., Wroxeter...

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Plate 7: Ancient Stone Font in Wroxeter Church

Plate 7: Ancient Stone Font in Wroxeter Church...

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Plate 8: Capitals found at Uriconium

Plate 8: Capitals found at Uriconium...

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Plate 9: Samian, Upchurch, and Romano-Salopian Pottery

Plate 9: Samian, Upchurch, and Romano-Salopian Pottery...

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Plate 10: Rings and Combs

Rings and Combs (actual size)...

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Plate 11: Hair Pins &c.

Hair Pins &amp;c. (actual size)...

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Plate 12: Skulls from Wroxeter

Skulls from Wroxeter...

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Plate 13: Roman Remains from Wroxeter

Plate 13: Roman Remains from Wroxeter, in the possession of Samuel Wood, Esq., and Mask,. in the Museum, Shrewsbury...

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Plate 14: Upchurch Pottery, Adz, Spear Head, and Romano-Salopian (Red) Ware

Plate 14: Upchurch Pottery, Adz, Spear Head, and Romano-Salopian (Red) Ware...

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Plate 15: Carved stone fragments from Uriconium, in the Garden of Edward Stanier, Esq., Wroxeter

Carved stone fragments from Uriconium, in the Garden of Edward Stanier, Esq., Wroxeter...

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Plate 16: Sepulchral Stone

Sepulchral Stone from in the Cemetery, Wroxeter J. O. SANDFORD. CARTE DE VISITE ALBUMS. PRESENTATION BOOKS. STATIONARY. North and South Wales Guides. TOURISTS CASES. SHREWSBURY AND WROXETER STEREOSCOPIC SLIDES. 25 High-Street, Shrewsbury . J. O. SANDFORD. DRAWING MATERIALS, COMPRISING WINSOR &amp; NEWTON’S, &amp; ROWNEY’S COLOURS, IN CAKES, TUBES, AND PANS. BRISTOL AND LONDON BOARDS. Whatman’s Drawing Papers. SKETCH BLOCKS &amp; BOOKS, OF VARIOUS SIZES. PENCILS &amp; BRUSHES. CRA

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WATERPROOF TWEED CLOAKS.

J. E. &amp; W. PHILLIPS, TAILORS, AND HABIT MAKERS, 37, HIGH STREET, SHREWSBURY, ARE THE ORIGINAL MAKERS OF THE WATERPROOF TWEED CLOAKS FOR LADIES, Which they continue to supply of the same quality which obtained for them their European reputation. GENTLEMEN’S OVER COATS OF THE SAME MATERIAL. Patterns of Material, and directions for Measurement sent (post free) on application....

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LION HOTEL, SHREWSBURY.

The Nobility, Gentry, and Public of Shrewsbury and its Vicinity, are respectfully informed that this old-established and well-known Hotel, has undergone considerable renovation and change in every department, and that nothing will be spared to make it the most complete and comfortable Hotel in the county. An entirely new tariff of charges has been arranged (including servants’ fees) on the most reasonable charges. N.B.—The Lion Omnibus runs in connection with all the Trains to and from the Rail

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LONDON JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT, 38, HIGH-STREET, SHREWSBURY.

J. KENT , (SUCCESSOR TO J. T. NIGHTINGALE,) PROPRIETOR . KENT’S LONDON AND GENEVA WATCHES, ENGLISH AND FOREIGN CLOCKS AND TIMEPIECES, Manufactured to order, expressly for his own sale, by the most celebrated makers, are warranted to keep accurate time, and every attention given to them for the first two years free of charge , unless broken or injured by accident. WEDDING AND GUARD RINGS, Of 12, 15, 18, &amp; 22 Carat Gold, Hall-marked . GUARD AND ALBERT CHAINS of the newest London design, an

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Shrewsbury & Wroxeter Illustrated.

A Series of Views for the Stereoscope , by F. Bedford . 1s. each . 1. Shrewsbury , Ireland’s Mansion. 2. Shrewsbury , the Market House. 3. Shrewsbury , the Market Square. 4. Shrewsbury , Statue of Clive, in the Market Place. 5. Shrewsbury , Elizabethan Houses, in the Market Place. 6. Shrewsbury , the Cross Keys Tavern, High Street. 7. Shrewsbury , Old House, Princess Street, Market Place. 8. Shrewsbury , Shearman’s Hall, and Old Post Office Inn. 9. Shrewsbury , Old Houses, in the Wyle C

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VINCENT CRUMP,

BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT Bride, Citron, and Desert Cakes. Royal coat of Arms Simmels in the Season. CONFECTIONER To Her Majesty the Queen, WYLE COP AND PRIDE HILL, SHREWSBURY. ROYAL SHREWSBURY CAKES ....

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