a hand-mill, two pieces of stag's horn, two brass fibule, and several copper coins.

Among the other remains found in different parts of the ruins, were many fragments of Patera, and pots of various kinds of Roman earthen-ware; many fragments of glass, two-eighths of an inch thick, "which had evidently been used in the windows; one piece perfectly flat, with a round edge, formed to fit a groove;" a great number of ornamented tiles; and the fragment of another tile, with the figures twice repeated; two ivory styles; an oblong brass fibulæ; a fibulæ, nearly circular, with ornamented ends; a silver coin of Domitian, in fine preservation; another of Otacilia Severa, very perfect; copper coins of Nero, Vespasian, Domitian, Trajan, Carausius, Constantine the Great, Constantine, Jun. Theodosius, and Arcadius; and a "small British coin of gold, similar to figure 55 in Camden's Britannia, page 65.”

In Birdbrook Parish, on different sides of the turnpike-road, which appears to have been formed for a considerable space on the Roman Military Way, various skeletons have been found. With some of them urns were discovered; but the greater number had neither urns, nor any other antiquity. The ground where they lay, is quite level, having no traces whatever of tumuli; thus verifying the observation of Strutt," that not many Roman antiquities have been found in barrows, but large quantities in the more common burying-grounds, near their stations; and without their cities, or on the sides of their great roads; and these are most frequently discovered without the least vestige, or mark, of any kind of funeral monuments."* Two skeletons, found with two urns, in Oxley Field, belonging to Chadwell Farm, lay in a very singular manner; being "arm in arm, each clasping the same urn; and the right leg of one laid across the left leg of the other, the lower urn being placed between their hips." In the year 1792, at a little distance from the turnpike-road, a single skeleton was found, with two urns; the one placed lengthways between the feet; the other clasped by the left arm, with the

mouth

Antiquities, Vol. I. p. 58.

mouth downwards: one of the urns was broken with the pick-axe; the other was preserved by Mr. Walford: it is about seven inches high, and three wide at the top, with the sides indented. A small quantity of red earth was inclosed within these, similar to the soil in which they were deposited.

A little to the north-west of Watsoe Bridge, which divides the parishes of Birdbrook and Steeple-Bumstead, and immediately above the river Stour, is the site of a Roman Camp, or station; part of the west vallum is still remaining; the north-west end was destroyed so lately as the year 1793. Many stone foundations of buildings have been dug up here; and several skeletons, with urns and coins, discovered in a neighbouring field: in a field also, on the opposite side of the Stour, many Roman coins have been found.

In Ford Meadow, about a furlong from the camp, a workman, stubbing gravel in February, 1795, discovered a small urn, covered with part of a Roman brick, containing one gold, and twen ty-nine silver coins, of the Lower Empire, in very fine preservation. The gold coin was of the Emperor Honorius: the others were of Honorius, Arcadius, Magnus Maximus, Gratian, Valentinian the Elder, and Julian. The urn was of light brown earth, slightly baked. About one mile and a half westward from Ford Meadow is a large tumulus.*

WHITLEY, in the parish of Birdbrook, and nearly centrically situated between Birdbrook, Bathorne End, and Ridgwell, is the property and residence of Thomas Walford, Esq. who has greatly embellished and improved the estate by various plantations, and laying out the grounds in an ornamental style. A screen of firs and forest trees, combined with sycamores, chesnuts, larches, &c. extends from the house to a small hill, planted with cedars, cy

presses,

* Some other antiquities, and, in particular, a number of British coins, are mentioned by Mr. Walford, to have been found to the right of the Military Way, beyond Haverhill, in Suffolk; these will be mentioned in our description of that county. In addition to the particulars communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. W. that gentleman is now preparing for publication, a History and Description, with Plates, of the Roman Antiquities found in the Parish and Vicinity of Birdbrook.

presses, and laurels. The prospect hence, commanding some fine scenery, is enlivened by the grand embattled Castle of He dingham, and the Churches of Toppesfield, Ridgwell, and Birdbrook. At a short distance is a wood of about seven acres, laid out in pleasant walks, and ornamented with various seats and buildings. One of them, called the Hermitage, is most agreeably situated among the trees, and consists of three circular apartments. It is built with rag-stone, timber, and bark of trees: the whole covered with thatch, paved with pebbles and tiles, and rusticated with moss, &c. Several other rural and ornamental scenes and objects are contained in these grounds. The flower garden comprises a rich and choice assemblage of exotic shrubs and flowers, besides a collection of rare English plants: this spot is decorated with a building, appropriately named the Temple of Flora, and a Summer-house, fancifully ornamented with trellis-work. This estate was purchased, by Thomas Walford, M. D. of Finchinfield, (ancestor to the present proprietor,) in the year 1657.

BIRDBROOK HALL, with other estates in this vicinity, is the property of Sir William Beaumaurice Rush, Knt. of Wimbledon, in Surry; whose family purchased this manor, in the year 1716, of the Honorable Lord George Howard, who possessed it in right of his wife.

The manor of BATHORNE HALL, the property of George Pyke, Esq. was purchased of Charles, Lord Stanhope, by George Pyke, Esq. of Birdbrook, in the year 1648. BATHORNE HOUSE, the present residence of the above gentleman, was erected in 1668; but was modernized, and much improved, in the year 1801. It stands in a large park, partly disposed into pleasure grounds.

HARSTED HALL, a reputed manor in Birdbrook Parish, is distinguished as containing some of the finest oaks in the whole county.

STURMERE derives its name from its vicinity to a Mere formed by the river Stour, and though now only an obscure village, was formerly of great extent and consequence, and is said to have extended into both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Even the town of Haverhill, in the former county, was once a hamlet to Sturmere; and the latter is still "rated and assessed to the land-tax by

1