REMAINS OF ANCIENT LONDON.
In constructing the last section of the Metropolitan (or ‘Underground’) Railway—that expensive three-quarters of a mile, which it is said will cost three millions—many curious discoveries have been made, and many interesting relics brought to light. The section commences at the present Mansion House Station, in Cannon Street, and proceeds nearly east, at a considerable depth, terminating at the present Tower Hill Station, and thus completing what is commonly called the ‘Inner Circle.’ In its course, the railway tunnel traverses one of the most ancient sites of the original British-Roman London; and the discoveries alluded to chiefly refer to that period. The most important of these has been a very perfectly built landing-stage or pier, not on the banks of the Thames, but on the left bank of Wall Brook, near its confluence with the Thames, the site being beneath the present Dowgate Hill, which leads direct to the river. The stage appears to have been erected with much care and skill, and is a very superior work. First, the spot is filled in with oak timber-piling, carefully bound together; on this is laid a concrete bed, which, in its turn, supports a Roman tesselated pavement.
The Wall Brook at that period was doubtless a stream of some importance, having perhaps a mouth sufficiently broad to make a sort of useful harbour, just off the Thames; hence the necessity of a landing-pier or stage being constructed here for commercial purposes. Nor is this the only one of the kind which the railway-works have brought to light, for a second has been found beneath Trinity Square Gardens, which are situated on the spot known as ‘Tower Hill,’ so celebrated in history as the place of public execution. This second landing-stage also appears to have stood on a bank leading to the river, forming, like the other, a small harbour for the unloading of craft or landing of passengers. This stage is built in the same way—timber-piles supporting a concrete bed, and on this again the usual Roman tile pavement. But it was observed that the oak-piling was surrounded by a number of oak-tree roots, leading to the supposition that the ground had to be cleared of its original forest before the building operations of the landing-stage were begun. This is confirmed by the fact that the spot where these discoveries were made must have been outside the eastern boundary of the original city of London; because a fortress—or work of some kind—was erected by the Romans for the protection of the city on that side, on the site of Gundulph’s still existing ‘Tower,’ and of course outside the town, and surrounded probably at that period by the ‘forest primeval.’
The underground track of this part of the railway has proved a storehouse for relics of both Roman and medieval times. A great deal of pottery has been found, as well as articles of glassware, and even cannon-balls. Two leaden coffins were brought to light of decided Roman pattern; also Roman coins. Amongst the many Roman tiles which were unearthed, one of them bears the distinct mark of a dog’s foot, which can only be explained by the animal having walked over the tile whilst it was still soft after its manufacture. Two entire skeletons were also discovered, each head downwards—one in Trinity Square, and one at the bottom of a well twenty-five feet below the ground, in Aldgate. The remains of the windlass which had once been at the top were also discovered, together with some pieces of broken pottery. A second well was also found near the first; but their age has not been determined.
Below the station at Tower Hill, some timber-piles were uncovered, which have been stated to be the remains of the scaffold on which Lords Kilmarnock, Balmerino, and Lovat suffered in the last century. But this seems unlikely, as no doubt the scaffold was removed after the last execution. But even if it was not, one hundred and forty years would hardly be sufficient to bury, many feet below the surface, so large an article as a timber scaffold. A rare and curious print, giving a view of Tower Hill on the occasion of the death of Lord Lovat, shows the scaffold about the middle of the Hill, and consequently to the south-west of the present station.
Since the above was written, we learn that ‘more unexpected but important evidence’ has been brought to light of the buildings of ancient London, by the destruction of the remains of old London Wall. It had already been noticed that the foundations of the Roman wall by the river were made up very much of materials which had been already used in public buildings, and near to Tower Hill it has been discovered that some fine sepulchral monuments have been made to serve the same purpose. During the further destruction of the wall, it has been found to have been partly constructed with stones belonging to older buildings to a very great extent, some of the bastions being composed of them. In the wall in Castle Street, Bevis Marks, sculptured stones on which are inscriptions are being discovered, and carefully collected by some zealous antiquaries, for deposit in the Guildhall Museum.