Figs. 214 and 215.—Headington.
The sepulchral urns of Romano-British manufacture are of extremely varied form and ornamentation. Figs. [78], [135], [137], [140], [161 to 165], and [183], will serve as examples of some of the varieties. The most usual forms, however, are perhaps Figs. [200 to 205]. They are of various kinds of clays, and were generally plain, or but slightly ornamented.
Other good examples of sepulchral urns of various kinds, and of different shapes, will be seen on the three groups of pottery, &c., found at Cirencester, shown on Figs. [203], [204], and [205].[25] On the same engravings will be seen many other characteristic examples of Roman Ceramic Art, as well as some metallic remains.
Fig. 216.—Tile Cist, Colchester.
Fig. 217.
Building-tiles, flue-tiles, roof-tiles, and drain-tiles were a branch of manufacture which was carried on to a considerable extent in various parts of the country, and, no doubt, generally in the immediate neighbourhood of the buildings where they were used. The building-tiles which are to be seen in the remains of the period, as in the Jewry Wall at Leicester, engraved on Fig. [206], where occasionally they form “herring-bone” masonry, are usually from about seven to ten inches square, and about an inch and a half in thickness. They are frequently marked with letters, and with feet of animals which have passed over them (Figs. [207] and [209]). The flue-tiles are of various dimensions. They are usually of an oblong square form, hollow throughout, with a lateral opening in one side for the heated air to pass through (see Fig. [214]). Others have two channels through their entire length, and are without side openings. They are much ornamented with incised patterns, and occasionally are stamped with letters. Some, too, have figures of dogs, stags, &c. They were used for various purposes. Another example is shown lying down in the centre of the group of tiles on Fig. [210]. In this group, the tall example, represented standing upright, will be sufficient to show the form and excellence of construction of the drain-tiles—the small end of each being made to fit with an elbow joint into the thick end of the next. In the same group are some open-flanged drain-tiles. An inscribed flange-tile is shown on Fig. [217].
The roofing-tiles were much more calculated to resist the wind and rain than those of later invention. They had flanged sides, which fitted close to each other and were covered at the joint by a small semicircular tile, like a draining or ridge-tile, imbedded in mortar and resting on the two roofing-tiles, as a draining-tile rests on its sole. This arrangement is shown on Fig. [211], which represents some roofing-tiles found at Walesby. Of the ridge-tiles, of semicircular form, to cover the joints, two good examples (Figs. [212] and [215]), from Headington, are here given.