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present century was the cause of much destruction of old roads and dykes, but some account of this may be gathered as it occurred in the memory of those still alive.

As a rule roads or remains lie from one to three feet below the present surface of the ground. When only a short depth below much damage is done by the plough as it passes over. The ploughmen know the hard spots in the fields they traverse, and enquiries should be made of them on this point.

Sometimes, too, oral tradition preserves stories of giants' burial places or particular parts haunted by spirits. This is significant, and it is curious to remark that discoveries in tumuli will sometimes confirm the legends so prevalent as to burial in "golden armour"; or of hidden hoards of wealth. There is often more in such old

wives' tales than may at first appear. With a large city like Silchester situated so near the boundaries of Berkshire, we can be certain that roads must and did cross from thence to the Thames, and to reach it must have also crossed the river "Canete," or Kennet.

Important fords were paved, and such an one is now traceable over the Thames at Streatley, opposite "The Hollies," but no trace is discernible of any ford across the Kennet.

Tradition says one crossed it near Tile Mill in a field called Puntfield, and the recent discovery of a broad patch of cement and flint stones in the garden of a farm formerly called the Folly seems to suggest that the long-sought-for northern road from Silchester to the Thames may at last be found at this point, as an old ploughman averred that he knew that similar concrete lay along the fields above going towards Ufton Church.

If straight, the direction of this road lay towards Pangbourne or Upper Basildon, but this course lies to the west of "North Street " (a suggestive name, beyond which a ford is known called "Malpas," now localized into "Maypus "). Another speculative road might lead from Silchester out of the extreme north-east of the city, and crossing Mortimer West End, traverse Grazeley Green, formerly called Broad Street Common. Just below this is a field called the Broadway from thence to Sheffield Ford, where a coin was found, on by Nunhide, where a coin of Nerva was dug up, but such a line of road would not lead anywhere.

"The City" at Tilehurst yields no traces of Roman occupation. Mr. Harrison, of Theale, has found indications of roads near, but it could not have been an important place. Far more likely sites of Berkshire towns are at Chinham Farm, the supposed Juliancum, or

at Streatley, presumed to be Thamesis-neither of these have been properly investigated.

To return to the subject of the Survey of Berkshire from an archæological point of view. With the uncertain description at present at my command I have hesitated to mark any difference between Celtic and Anglo-Saxon burials. In similar work undertaken in Herefordshire the discoveries are classed under various headings, but here this can only be undertaken gradually. For any work of this kind local knowledge is indispensable, and I now resign the further filling in of the maps into the hands of those more competent to undertake the work than myself, and trust that in time a very full and perfect map of ancient Berrocscir may thus be obtained.

As to the maps themselves, I would suggest their being either framed by being mounted on wooden panels which would fit into the glass frame, but be so arranged as to be taken out when required, or else that they be bound lengthways into a portfolio, the notes of finds being arranged alphabetically in parishes and typewritten, leaving spaces and interleaves for additions as they occur.

These if hung up for awhile, either in the Free Library or Silchester Museum, would be seen by everyone, and fresh information might be thus obtained which I have failed by letters or enquiries to elicit.

Some Berkshire Crosses.

By John Denis De Vitré.

(Continued from page 101.)

FARNBOROUGH. -On the north side of the church is the pedestal and two feet of the shaft of a cross; in the top of the shaft is a small hole about 11⁄2 inches square, filled with lead.

GOOSEY.-On the north of the church is the pedestal and stump of the shaft of a cross.

HAGBOURNE. This village contains no less than three crosses, or rather a complete one and the remains of two others. The one now complete stands near the church in its original position, and was probably the market cross of the village. This cross is mentioned by Lysons as a tall taper shaft on an ascent of steps; in the side of the shaft facing the church is a niche eleven inches long and six inches broad, and in the pedestal also facing the church is another niche eleven inches long and one foot seven inches wide at the bottom. The top of the shaft, which is ten feet high, is surmounted by a square stone, on three sides of which are sundials, and on the other side marks of an inscription and a date that seems to begin 17... On the top of this sundial there used to be a large ball which was thrown down by a drunken grocer of West Hagbourne a few years ago.

Of the other two crosses, one stands on a mound of grass covered earth some six feet in height and eight feet across, at the entrance of the village coming from Didcot; it consists of three feet of the shaft standing on a pedestal buried in the earth.

The other cross, similar to the above, is placed on the bank at the corner of the road in the Hamlet of Coscot. Lysons notices a small cross at a place called Crosscot or Crostcot, which may be this one.

NORTH HINCKSEY.-In the churchyard on the south side are the remains of a good Early Decorated cross, with most of the shaft still standing, the top being missing as usual. By the side of the road from here to Botley is the base of another cross,

SOUTH HINCKSEY.-There is here on the north side of the church the usual remains of a cross, namely three steps and the pedestal with a hole in its top to receive the shaft.

LAMBOURN.-There are the remains of a fine cross in the Market Square, consisting of four steps, a pedestal and shaft. It is perpendicular in style, the base being octagonal, and has had a large canopy at the top in which were once figures, now, however, so defaced that it is impossible to tell what they originally represented; one idea is that they represented the Crucifixion, while Lewis in his "Topographical Dictionary of England," published 1849, says it is supposed to have been originally the figure of a sphynx. It has been suggested to me that the figure may have been a lamb, and had thus some reference to the name of the village, or else that being close to the church it might have been symbolical of the Agnus Dei.

There was formerly, it appears, another cross in this village, which stood on the site of the present weighbridge and was called St. Antholin's Cross; it was standing in 1673 as it is mentioned in an old deed of that date, but I have found no mention as to when it was removed; the churchyard cross from which excommunications, etc., were read, is also no longer in existence.

NEWBURY.-The town cross stood near the Town Hall, but I have been unable to discover any view of it or information relating to it.

READING.—The cross, or rather crosses, since there were probably several, have quite disappeared; in Coates' History of Reading it is said that when in 1552 Edward VI. was at Reading, the mayor and burgesses and others received the king at Colley cross, where the mayor gave up his mace to the king, who having received it handed it back again; this probably points to some ceremony similar to that which used to take place at Temple Bar when the Sovereign visited the city.

In a charter of Elizabeth dated February 23rd, 1562, several bridges are mentioned as being very ruinous and in need of repair, among them being two, situated between the old guildhall and a certain cross called Gerrard's cross.

GREAT SHEFFORD.-The cross here stands in the churchyard on the south side of the church; it consists of a pedestal and six feet of the shaft; the pedestal is curious in that it has a head carved at cach corner, instead of the corners being cut off as is usual, and in

the top of each head is a small hole about an inch square, in some of which there is still lead remaining. I do not know what can have been the use of these holes, or whether they supported small shafts or a sort of railing round the main shaft; if anyone can throw any light on their original purpose or give any other instance of their occurring, it might perhaps be interesting.

SHRIVENHAM.-The remains of the cross here are, as usual, the pedestal and stump of the shaft.

STEVENTON.-The cross stands on the north of the church, and is very similar to the one at Didcot, the top part being modern and the steps and base original. The corners of the pedestal have been cut off and on one of them is carved what looks like a rose, while on the others are shields, bearing a cross dividing them into the four quarters. On the east end of the pedestal is a niche four inches long and two inches wide, whether original or not is hard

to say.

SPARSHOLT.-The cross is on the north side of the church, and consists of the usual pedestal and stump of shaft; the pedestal, however, is square as usual, at the bottom, but the corners at the top are cut off so as to make it octagonal, and thus it may have belonged to the Perpendicular style like the examples at Lambourn and Eastbury.

THATCHAM.-I have been told there is here the pedestal and part of the shaft of a cross which was very likely a market cross, as the town had once an important market.

WANTAGE. -The cross formerly stood in the Market Place, and must have been of much beauty as appears from the fragment now in a garden in the town. Lysons says that round it was the follow. ing inscription: "Pray for the good Earl of Bath, and for good master William Barnabe, the builder thereof, 1580, and for William, Lord Fitzwarren."

The fragment that survives shews it must have been ornamented with half-length figures, each in an arched niche; whether they extended all over the shaft or merely in a circle round the top is impossible to say, as I have been unable to find any view or description of it.

WALLINGFORD.-There was formerly a market cross here, and I am told there is a reference to it of the time of William Rufus, but have been unable to obtain any particulars.

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