South London . vely andcheerful. Such were the origins of the settlementsof South embankment a causeway, a fishery for the wants ofThorney first and of Lon-don next; then villas, putup by the better sort, at-tracted here, one believes,by the fresh air coming upthe river with every tide,and by the quiet of the settlement began quiteearly in the Roman occu-pation : this seems to be proved by the extent of the draining and drying of the low lands went on meanwhilegradually, gardens and orchards taking the place of theformer marsh. The place has always, save at rar
South London . vely andcheerful. Such were the origins of the settlementsof South embankment a causeway, a fishery for the wants ofThorney first and of Lon-don next; then villas, putup by the better sort, at-tracted here, one believes,by the fresh air coming upthe river with every tide,and by the quiet of the settlement began quiteearly in the Roman occu-pation : this seems to be proved by the extent of the draining and drying of the low lands went on meanwhilegradually, gardens and orchards taking the place of theformer marsh. The place has always, save at rare intervals, been entirelydefenceless. The Pax Romana protected it. Rememberthat London itself was not walled till the latter part of thefourth century. Why should it be? For more than threehundred years, for ten generations, the City knew no warsand feared no invader. The Count of the Saxon Shorebeat back, and kept back, the pirates of Norway and Den-mark ; the Legions beat back the marauders of Scotland and C. A RELIC OF THE STONE AGE 18 SOUTH LONDON Ireland. Southw^ark, like the City its neighbour, needed nowall and asked for no defence. Twice, before the arrival of the East Saxons, we get aglimpse in history of South London. The first is the rout ofthe usurper, the Emperor Allectus, after the battle of ClaphamCommon. Towards the close of the third century the succession ofusurpers who sprang up everywhere in the outlying portionsof the Empire contained six who came from Britain. Whateffect these movements had upon the security of South Londonwe have no means of learning. The history, however, ofCarausius and his successor Allectus affords material for re-flection. The former, who was of Belgian origin, rose to bethe Count of the Saxon Shore—in other words. Admiral ofthe Roman Fleet. In this capacity he kept the seas freefrom pirates ; enriched himself, became famous for his courageand his generosity ; usurped the title of Caesar, fought withand defeated the fleets of Maxi
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbesantwa, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
