Archaeologia cantiana . esspit of the city, was in theDungeon or Dane-John Grounds. The neighbourhood of theRiding Grate had, in Roman times, been upon a lower level than therest of the city. Mr. Pilbrow says, The old road evidently dippedtowards the Riding Grate, before arriving at which there was foundrough pebble pitching, at 3 feet deep : under this there was a greatdepth of black vegetable mould, at 14 feet, in which was found a Roman silver spoon [of which he gives an engraving], some blackvases containing burnt bones or ashes, and boars tusks. Outsidethe Riding Grate he found remains of
Archaeologia cantiana . esspit of the city, was in theDungeon or Dane-John Grounds. The neighbourhood of theRiding Grate had, in Roman times, been upon a lower level than therest of the city. Mr. Pilbrow says, The old road evidently dippedtowards the Riding Grate, before arriving at which there was foundrough pebble pitching, at 3 feet deep : under this there was a greatdepth of black vegetable mould, at 14 feet, in which was found a Roman silver spoon [of which he gives an engraving], some blackvases containing burnt bones or ashes, and boars tusks. Outsidethe Riding Grate he found remains of the piers which carried a draw-bridge over the waterway. Their tops were 5 feet below the presentsurface, and the pier nearest to the gate was 32 feet distant from itsouter face. At 18 feet below the present surface the base of thewall-pier had not been reached. This shews how extremely low, inearly times, was the level of firm ground outside Riding Grate. Themost remarkable discovery, however, was made about 185 yards. 346 VIEW OF CANTERBURY IN 1588. and around Riding Gate is utterly unlike what it used to be. Someidea of its former condition may be gathered from William Smithsancient birds-eye view of the city. It was taken in 1588, the yearof the Spanish Armadas alarming visit to our shores. It provesthat, 300 years ago, water flowed completely round the Castle, andwashed against the city walls, beyond Worth Grate, to Riding Grate;and beyond Riding Grate, as far as St. Georges Gate. This viewof Canterbury, while it shews how nearly a Moated Mound theDane-John Hill was, even so lately as 1588, likewise confirmsMr. Clarks opinion that the Mound was formerly much larger,rougher, and not so lofty as it now is. It verifies his conjecturethat the sides have been scarped, and that the soil therefrom hasbeen heaped upon the top of the mound. William Smiths birds-eye view is the earliest plan of the city that we possess. It cannotbe expected to exhibit the accuracy of a mo
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Keywords: ., bookauthorkentarch, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1883
