Roman London
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England). An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in London. Vol. III. Roman London. (Stationery Office. 18e.) Au, that is definitely known about Roman London, with a modicum of instructed comment, is to be found in the new volume issued by the Historical Monuments Commission, whose labours cannot be over-praised. Dr. Mortimer Wheeler, Mr. R. G. Collingwood, Mr. Bushe-Fox, Dr. G. F. Hill, and other leading experts in Roman-British antiquities have collaborated in the preparation of the book. Every extant relic of Roman days is described ; maps, diagrams, photo- graphs and coloured plates of mosaic pavements are lavishly provided ; the indexes are remarkable. All earlier books on the subject are now superseded : for the study of Roman London this volume will henceforth be the indispensable production. We may indicate one or two of the main conclusions. First of all, the Thanies in Roman days was much lower than it is now, perhaps fifteen feet or more, so that the tidal action at the site of London Bridge was less powerful. There is no certain evidence for a pre-Roman London. Between' the year 43, when the legions arrived, and 80 when Boudieca (or Boadicea) sacked London, Romanized traders and crafts- men appear to have settled in fair numbers on the hill where Leadenhall Market now stands. After the suPpression of the British revolt the new city was surrounded by a wall, which took in the eastern hill just named and the hill on which St. Paul's is built. The wall was probably of the first century. Much later, in the third century, the wall was strengthened by bastions. London by then was the recognized centre of the Roman province. When the legions departed, a few traders remained within the walled city. The invading Jutes and Saxons probably sailed up the river past London without troubling to attack it : they wanted land to farm and were not interested in towns. In the sixth century some Jutes, who were keen traders, probably settled in London. Soon after Augustine's coming the old bishopric of London was revived in 804. Thenceforward- London rapidly grew. Such in brief is the early history of London. Dr. Wheeler shrewdly observes that the Celtic derivation of the name Lon- dinium no more proves that the city was founded by Celts than does the name of Canberra prove that the new Common- wealth capital was set up by blackfellows. The volume contains a mass of evidence to substantiate these leading doctrines.
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