wider originally, it is now 14 ft. by 7; while the southern third, where the pavement narrows, is 5 ft 6 ins. by 5 ft. 6 ins.

The position of the two pieces is shown in the plan below.

The condition of the smaller pavement is as good as when it was laid down.

We are glad to know that it is proposed to keep the pavements intact, and to allow public inspection on payment of a small sum.

We are indebted to the Rev. W. G. Whittingham, Rector of South Wigston, Leicester, and to Mr. H. J. C. Valpy, of the same town, for the foregoing account of the two beautiful Roman pavements recently discovered there. Leicester, we may remind our readers, is the Roman

Ratæ, which was an important station on the Fosse Way, in the direct line from Aquae Sulis to Lindum. The photograph from which the illustration is derived was taken by Mr. H. Pickering, of Leicester, and gives a very clear idea of the beauty of the larger pavement, and also shows the damage which it unfortunately suffered when the city

was burnt.

Ancient Entrenchments at Uphall, near Ilford, Essex. - Within seven miles of the Bank of England may yet be seen the remnant of an old encampment, whose origin, be it early British, or Roman, or Danish, is "lost in the twilight of fable". It existed probably in the prehistoric days of our Island, and can be dated back for at least eighteen

The earthworks are situated on the east bank of the river Roding, on land which is naturally higher than that on the other side, and about mid-distant between the ancient town of Barking, and Ilford, in which new parish the land is now comprised.

PLAN OF EARTHWORK REMAINS AT UPHALL

NEAR ILFORD ESSEX. AUGUST 1898 Walker: Grouch

The whole area of this "camp" occupies over forty-eight acres; but many centuries of farming operations have, in the end, so levelled the works that only a portion has been visible for some years past. The best-preserved remnant is at the north-west corner, close by the river, consisting of a mound some 28 ft. in height, which is much

Almost
obliterato

during thel
last to youg

deeper on the river side, with a "spur" or extension of the rampart for over eighty yards, the whole being grass-covered, untouched, and still in good condition. The highest portion, or "outlook", is known as "Lavender Mount", from the name of a farmer who occupied the holding last century. At the north-east corner a much larger portion of the rampart, extending more than four hundred yards, may even now be clearly defined; but already the land is out of occupation, having been sold during the last six months for ordinary building purposes, on this side of the footpath; and ere long the making of new roads and building of houses will entirely destroy all traces of this part of the rampart. The destruction has, indeed, already begun, gravel having been dug out of the highest portion.

The remainder of the land on the west side of the footpath which is now drained and made up as a road, was sold on the 1st of July last in two lots, and contains about half the area of the ancient "camp". The southern lot, with a long river frontage, being over twenty-one acres, and the other, containing the mount and ramparts, with the farmhouse, outbuildings, and a bit of marsh land on the river, being nearly eleven acres.

The whole was purchased by Mr. David Howard, F.C.S., J.P., etc., of the firm of Howard and Sons, of Stratford, a member of the Essex Archæological Society and President of the Essex Field Club. The former plot, on which, by the way, no vestige of any earthwork has ever been recorded, will form the site of their new chemical works; while on the latter plot, which adjoins on the north, the mount and rampart will be carefully preserved untouched, and in the same condition as they have so long remained. In view of the threatened entire demolition, it is at least satisfactory to record that so much has been secured, seeing that the enormous increase in the value of the land has hitherto checked all efforts for its preservation: notably that of the "National Trust for Places of Historic Interest", in conjunction with the "Society of Antiquaries".

For a more extended description of these earthworks, with references, detailed plan and views, the writer would refer to his Paper in the Essex Naturalist for 1893, pp. 131-38; and to a short notice in The Times of June 30th last.

Grafton House, Wanstead, Essex.

WALTER CROUCH, F.Z.S., etc.

Bow Church, Middlesex (communicated). - The long-threatened destruction of this interesting church is fortunately averted, but it may be well to put on record the steps which have been taken to

:

secure this desirable end. Two years ago an agitation was started for removing the church to widen the thoroughfare. The Committee for the Survey of the Memorials of Greater London took the matter up, and appealed to the London County Council, who thereupon refused to sanction any scheme of road improvements that would impair the existing church.

A second scheme was then started, for raising a large sum of money with a view to so restoring the church as to practically destroy its historic interest. This scheme implied the rebuilding of the aisle and chancel, and the re-casing of the tower. The Committee again intervened, and arranged with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings to prepare a report.

The new Bishop of Stepney saw the advantage of working with the allied Societies, namely, The Committee for the Survey of the Memorials of Greater London (known as the Watch Committee), The National Trust, The Metropolitan Gardens Association, and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings; and finally decided to form a new committee upon which the various Societies were represented. This committee is now at work carrying out the proposals of The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

The illustration gives a good idea of the general appearance of the church from the south-west. The tower is a noble object, occupying a commanding position on the Bow Road.

The architecture of the church dates from the early part of the fourteenth century, though altered in parts, as will be seen by the view given.

The chancel ceiling is a beautiful example of fifteenth-century woodwork, with large moulded beams and carved bosses, coloured and gilt, at their intersections. The nave roof is of this period, and also the oldest of the two fonts. There are some good monuments in the church, one dating back to the middle of the sixteenth century; also some interesting painted glass, figures of the twelve apostles, in a window of the north aisle and figures of Moses and Aaron, formerly in the east, now in the west window.

To repair, not "restore", this dilapidated structure, donations are solicited by the Hon. Sec., C. R. Ashbee, Esq., Essex House, Mile End Road, London.

Cromwell's Scotch Campaigns, 1650-51. By W. S. DOUGLAS (London: Elliot Stock. 10s. 6d.). -Through the labours of many painstaking investigators, the events connected with the life and work of Oliver Cromwell are being more and more brought to light; and every fresh discovery or correction of previous impressions only serves further to enhance our wonder at the abilities of the man who laid the throne of these realms in ruins, and then evoked order out of chaos by placing himself at the head of affairs; and serves also to show more and more decisively the sincerity of his motives, and how mistaken were those who used to look upon him as a hypocrite and a charlatan. Carlyle, no doubt, laid the foundations for this new, and we must add truer, view, in his monumental edition of Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, which he enriched with his own trenchant "elucidations", always just, if not always accurate. But Carlyle has had many successors, especially of late years. In 1895 the first volume of Dr. Gardiner's great work, the History of the Commonwealth and