(if‘.ommenta1'y by Matthew Bell on ‘C‘aesar in Kent‘ by Fraiicis Vine. I88(i. Notes on ("‘hapters V and VI. The battle described by the author of ‘Caesar in Kent’ in pages I64/5 he believes to have taken place on the high ground extending from. Garringtou, by Adisham Hill, to Barhain Downs, and there is nothing improbable in this con_jeeture; bu.t when he goes on to say that the v.ictorious Romans “ drove tlie Britons into the woods”-—-'” which to a considerable extent remain", and that “ beyond them is the green spot now known as Patrixhourne llill” one is curious to learn to what woods the author can intend to refer. The whole of the high grou.nd described above is now completely devoid of wood,e,\'cept some moclern plantations bounding Bifrons Park, and elsewhere; the only natural woods near are those about Woodlands a.nd lleden, and these would be in the rear of the advancing Roman army after they had touted the enemy, so the retreating Britons could liardly have been driven in that direction: a small party of the latter are said to have taken refuge in an “Oppi<‘lun.1'" which the author believes he can ide11ti_fy in the small hollow in Bourne Park called“ Old. Engla.nd’s Hole”, which , he adds, “ has always been associated by local tradition with some gallant defence of the early inliahitants of the country against their invaders.” I have lived in this place now for 45 years, and at an early period of my residence my curiosity was excited by the peculiar oddity of the name given to this hollow. I therefore made many enquiries respecting it from old people, farmers and labourers. who had lived all their lives on the spot, but l failed to obtain the slightest information a.s to the origin of the name, or the l'ai_ntest trace of any such “ local tradition” as the author speaks 01“. I well know the father of the informant referred to at page 168, and though I cannot recollect that I made any direct enquiry of liim, yet it seems strange that he should have been apparently the only person retaining the tradition, and his son the only person to whom he transmitted it. Since reading this account 1 have carefully , and ,1 hope, impartially, examined “Old Engla.nd"s la-lole”: it is a slight hol_low of very irregular shape ,measuring roughly about: 40 yards by 3t) internally, situated about halfway down the slope of the hilhinstead of on the summit where one would naturally expect to find a. “ stronghol.d"'_, or place of refugel was unable to recognise anything resembling a regular“ ranipa.rt" . and there is certainly no trace of a ditch” surrounding it. The ground a.d_ioining has doubtless been downland ever since C‘aesa1"s time, and one. would therefore expect that any earthworks, so strong as to seriously check. the Roman S0l(l.l€l"S, would be as clearly traceable now as those are on Barham_ Down_s beyond Kingston, which are known to this day as “Caesar’s Camp”. One must notice also that this hollow is commanded by higher ground on the N. E. the side on which the advancing Romans would approach it, and before the cutting for present Dover road was made this higher ground would have so completely overlooked the"‘Oppiduin” that the R.o1'na.ns(unless quite unprovided with missile weapons) could have poured in such vollies of slingstrmes etc as would. have driven back the garrison without coinpelling the storming party to wait under their tortudo” while throwing up an “ agger”. I feel great lresitation therefore in accepting our Author’s conclusion that this insigrriticarrt hollow is really the spot described in the quotation from Caesar p. I64 as “ the place in the woods excellently fortified both by nature and art.” To an ordinary observer it appears to be merely an old chalk pit , disused for many years(as a few thorns and ash have grown up in it), though in point of fact several loads of chalk were taken from it when l altered the entrance to the Park at Bridge in l857——the so» called “ rampart” which exists in a very irregular form, would probably be the top soil thrown aside by the labourers employed to get: the solid chalk below. I. was quite unable to identify the “ mound which still remains to prove the accura.cy of C aesar’s narrative”. In Chapter VI our Author speaks of“ the heights ol‘Garrington “ as being artificially formed with several terraces to resist the attacks of the British cliariots.These terraces seem to me only the natural geological formation of that part of the valley: but without venturing to speak so decisively as our Author does, either for, or against, the work of natu_re, one is struck by the fact that: the side of the hill is here so “ precipitous” natrally, that“ chariots could. not surmount it”, and therefore the enormous labour‘ of forming “ tour or live terraces succeeding one another” must [rave been wholly unnecessa.ry. With respect to the supposed traces ofentreuclrnients in Bourue I-?‘arl«; (lCSCI‘il_)€(l, on p. I9l I have carefully examined “the brow of the hill” in search of the “ two parallel lines of escarprnents with others at their extreu1it.ies at right angles”, and must candidly say I can tind nothing reserrrbling tlrerrrmexcept lst the traces of the ditches enclosing a. strip of land( perhaps the first enclosed portion of the Park)on each side of the great double avenue whicli formerly €Xi€ll.(lCt.l. from the Dover road to the foot of the hill, corresponding with the existing avenue at the back of the 1r1ans.ion~~~and Zndly the banks and ditches of the “Paddocks" mentioned by Hasted, enclosed at a later period by a succeerling proprietor. Perhaps however the Author does not intend to refer to either of these. He says his “ escarpments” are “ not easily disce'rned”-~”wl1ich argues their great antiquity”,-«possibly an arrtiquity of a far earlier period than either Britons or Romans. The two hexagonal enclosures,p I91, su.rr‘ounrled by a hanlt, there is no “dit'cl1”, and supposed to be “outposts” , are easily recognised: he says “they are lcnown traditionally as The F orts”: this is another instance of a. tradition known to hardly anyonel have never heard it meu.t’ioned.But', whatever else they may have been, they were certainly once plantations, as the trees(Scotch tiirs) still existed forty years ago in. one of them, and a few stumps were visible in the other; the bank of the NW. hexagon is still perfect, but after making ample allowance for the levelling effects of time and weather, it seems to rue far too insignificant in its dirnensions to have ever been the en_ihanl<_urei1t of a. Roman “outpost” while it is exactly what one might expect to find as a bank thrown up to assist: in protecting a plantation made perhaps less than 100 years ago. “The deep depresision a few yards dist'ant‘"_, supposed to have been an “ anrphitheatre”, I have been utterly unable to discover. Srrr'ely the _/\uthor cannot have intended to refer to the old chalk pit just below adjoining the road which we partially filled up and planted some years ago! lt is ll0WEIV€t' the only “ deep depression” I can find in that part of the .Park.. The spring, mentioned at _ page 193, possibly existed in. Caesafs time: it has always been loiown as '""‘l"lie cold Bath”, but the addition of “Roman”s” must I think be due to the well known propensity of the Author, and his old friend. In conclusion , we can readily agree with the. Author that an important engagement between Caesar’s army and the Britons may have taken place on the high plateau adjoining I-Barham Downs, the whole of which was probably open down land—-tliat the Britons, being defeated, were driven across the streain in the Valley, and took refuge in the extensive woods covering the summits of the hills beyond, of which Go1‘sley~Atcheste'r, and The Covert: etc are the existing remaii_1s, and in which their “Oppidum, fortified by nature and art” was situated, but we may be permitted to doubt the accuracy of the identiticatioii of particular localities such as “Old England’s lrlole” etc , which was no doubt prompted by the worthy gentleman whose researches and suggestions are admitted to have inspired the writer of the work, but whose intense enthusiasm, and vivid iinagiiiation, have perhaps soinettiines impelled him to form rather too hasty conclusions. The “local traditions” our Autlior relies upon as co1‘rol)orating his views can scarcely be said to have that general currency in the locality which would alone entitle them to the weiglit he apparently Ellletltfitlltiffw‘ to them MB Bourne Park. October 1886. , wuxnuso ‘-.-.-ur- —--.v~-. ___— —.__ terraces succeeding one another” must have been wholly unnecessary. With respect to the supposed traces of entrenchnients in Bouriie Park described on p.191 51 have ‘carefully-__exar_nined “the brow of the hill” in SC_a1'Cll of tlie “ "two a parallel ‘lines of escarjpments with ot.l1'e_rs at their extremities atrigllt angles”, and must candidly say I can find nothing res'embl_ingthem---except 1 st ‘the 3 traces of the ditc,-hes enclosing. a strip of land(per_haps the first enclosed portion of the P_ark)on each side of the great double avenue which formerly extende.d from the"Dover "road to thefoot of the hill, corresponding with the existing avenue at the back of the niansion---and Zndly the banks and ditches of the “Paddocks_”. mentioned by Hasted, enclosed at a later period by a succeeding proprietorl.-'Perl1aps howeverthe Authorldoes not intend torefei‘ to either of p these. He says his “ esca1prnents”_ -are “ not easily 'dlSC€I‘11C(.l’l’f--v_i_’Wh.lC_ll argues l t their great antiquity”,---possibly ianantiquity of afar earlier period than either Britons or Rornans. The two hexagonal enclosures,p 191, sun‘ounde1d by a bank, i there is no “ditcli”, and supposed to be ‘~‘outpo'sts” , are easily recognised: he says “they are known traditionally as The Forts”: this is another instance ‘of a tradition known to hardly an_yone.I have never heard it mentio._ned.But, : whatever else tlieymay have been, they were certainly: once plantations, as the T tre,cs(Scotchif1rs) still existedgforty years ago in one of tliein, and a few stumps a werevisible in the" other; the bank of the NW, ,hexagon is still p_er_fect, but after making’ ample allowancefor the levelling effects of time and weather, it seems to me far‘ too insignificant in its dimensions to have everfbeen the embankment of a Roman “outpost” while it is exactly what one might expect to find as at bank thrown up to assist in protecting a plantation made. perhaps less than 100 p years ago. .“,The deep depression a few yards distant”, supposed t:o have been 7 an “ ampl1itheatre”, Ihave been utterly unableto discover. Surely the Author cannot have inttmded to ref er to the old chalk pit justibelown atljoining the road which we partially filled up andplaiited some years ago! It is however the only “ deep depress.io11” I can find in that part of the Park. The spring, mentioned at , page 193, possibly existed, in Caesar’s time: it has always been known as “The ' cold Bath”, butthe additionof “Ro1nan’«s” must I thinkbe due to the well known propensity 9f the Author, and his old friend. In conclusion , we can readily agree with the Author -that an important » engagement between Caesar’s army and the Britons may have taken place on the -h'igh’plateau adjoining’ Barham Downs, the whole of which was probably open downland-s-that _the Britons, being defeated, were driven across the stream in the valley, and took refuge in the extensive woods, Covering the summits or the hills ‘beyond, of which Gorsley-Atclrester, and The Covert etc are the ‘ existing remains, and in which their “Oppidum, fortified by nature and art" was situated, but we may be pennitted to doubt:the accuracy of the identification of particular localities such as ‘-‘Old England’s Hole” etc , which was no-doubt prompted by the worthy" gentleman whose researches and suggestions are admitted to have inspired the writer of the work, but whose intense enthusiasm, a,ndvi—vi_d imagination, have perhaps soinetimes impelled "him to form rather1 too a hasty conclusions; The _—‘‘local traditions” our Author relies uponas l co1robora_ti.n_g'his views can scarcely be said to have that gen'e_1‘al currency ' 1_ the locality which would alone entitle them to-the weig_ht..he ap:pa.ren to -them ' » » - ' “ V .ttaches MB_ 4 19.6 C.»-ESAR IN —1:§.;~r'r.» the stream wherez, afmr t11e.ir1.we1ste':nii'_r1 Bazixanz Downs? the greater ;>orti0n 0f ‘the. Iefi; ‘wing was as doubtjqtiartered within {he fines of one: ofliae grear camps on the downs; but an exa1n§natic>n- ef the declivity between Bztrham Downs and the river opposite Chafitoa reveals the ‘traces of £211:-ea 1£r1_esfof earthworks, each of the Iersgth of about V three fhriongs. P;-Qbably Czesztr here ‘quartered his cavairy, in cozasequeace oi‘ the proximity to the river. These lines of fartificatioxz were perhaps origiaally throw; up in ea:‘Iie1'_ British wars, but even if they were so, they would dmxbtiess he used by the Romans as an auier iine of defence fer the camp. It maybe: noticeé edge that on the opposite hii}, beyomi the river, there is 2: -dauble léne of entrenchments, as if of an apposing army. These corresponding e1:1I:rem:I3« meats can each side of the river extend, with greater or iess prominence, as far as Ki-agston Ciaurcliy. Before quitténg Baxrham Dowas and their :2eigE1%::‘<>u1*11eotI, it wiil be wail to aaiiee one er M ‘ ,V__H,_“,‘ .,,,..... ‘ ‘_ H H?‘ A H: . .5,’ ‘ll ,. 45:,-Esmfs ‘FIR-ST 1’N}'...s&ND ENC£xI¥i.1’EviENT. :9}? {WC} o£her features, wllich-are cor1*c;‘t3-zzrative as to their Iaaving been thefiite of Cas:sar"s camp. ()1: the ‘bmw cf the hiii, in Bourne Park, {here zurewhat ‘appear to be the remains 9?? two aut- paszs, 490 yards apart, s11rrou11cied ,eae:h by a dizch. They are of the same cfimensions, and form "almost perfect hexzxgcms, each side being about 50 feet in iength. They are situated. E11 commanding positions on a 11111, czflied iocaliy “Star H111,” and would afford vexcefient 3-tatiens far the guards piazzed before the gates of the camp, whence they c011I~:iA view the pcsitien and movements of the enemy. The}? are k¥10*W.11 t:*aditio13a}]y as “ the Forts." They are new bfare‘ 0.? trees? but have the appearance of having been plamted at some comparatively recerzt pe:rioé.1 ' A deep dep1'e$$i01’; 21 few yards riistant from (me 1 I izrlagiae that these cutpwts were at first thx‘ow:} up ff)? atatians outsizie the camp fo-maeé by Cmsar after the tfdkmgof “ the oppidum ”; but that afnenvarcis, wimn the <:am;> W33 extended :§.u12‘ng Csxzsar-’a ahsence at the coast, ‘tha-y, and." the Gisgyidusn itszzif; wax‘: inchxéed wxthzn the lines at I;he_encam_p- mém, the ground of7.i3ourne Park having been reieartad, of tmes by the Rozzmn soidiers for the purpose cf this extension of _theiz' ztamp. é T - q. gs.‘-i—-‘M: ' — -' M-7» r .=..‘.:.-. ‘-.‘.x: """ "1"<"' . % .-J 4, _ of t11ese: forts may p:jc;ssi}i>jLy}ha1re be.en cme of thése &>:»:temp01'izeci a::_1§_1*1i‘fI1.é;2it;*es -=g:;:i't1;.xvvi1‘i:;;‘t3; §Vé3;_. 1—;E1‘1<::w C~2'2'csa1" sought. —:Fmv. :17}-:3, wherx net in 2u;t*u:;1.1 comijat; "'$7§I:’}11i1f_e= cizfys i:LTL3s:21*1t ::e§pai:rii1g k:iis* .:xj~%eis{se}. _ ‘_ gii-:€x::1en~ts ~.$ron1.«.:1 ‘d<:«u13t}..eI2ss=-: .1_-‘«sssQ1*te<§i :<:>— by his «s r::>ic1ie1~y '_w}‘1©- 1.‘-fizns.-1i_11ed, 213 we T$11:a;1lA h:a1'e21ftex:..11C>tii<::e? at 9° an '23 E1» 33. -r-:~ {'9 I :§I1é-»-c¢m1ps;. » ‘ . 1 :5 "véry formidable st1*o11g11(2k§§ pointed out by -fiie. 20-rdnance Sur‘VzeyQ1~s an Eheii.‘ map .213 5.‘ Roman =<_::.>.n.*:p,,V” may be seen at the eastern extremity £2-f the Dcywns. it not of »R:0'm-an but ;Br§.t.i_sh .<:.<:mstru.:.:tion, but ma” var 1i_.ke1.- lmze ‘beer: . . .. Y Y . risecl by C::£Ii3S&1x"'S..'211"I‘f1}'“ as 3.11 oLit:pc_3’st -fi§:Ir~ like ciefexmce of his camp £113 .e:.<:tr,€ma .. deep ditches by--'xvhie13; .it.« is smmunded, -meeting - .gf11e motile: at —acut_Ae.:a.:ngI_es, _wo13,1g;1’ f<1:flbrd__ pro.- tecticm to several Iugxndredg 51311;. Tllyere appears ei.}__s‘Q to heme 'be‘:211' 9. Year}? ’i‘if1Q1f.£}d’Q1‘ m:1111i:.1s tihe south~e21_st: ¢gér;?gi;.ér‘: ;lE).:>9wi1s; A_ . (311 12116? :~;<:z1:1*;11.«.va$'1: :ef;..}3.,o_.ug1f11_e .P3_.rk tliere‘ is .21. §;}j)'ri11g, "x~;hiC11 is =s:~i11% ‘F 'i:1’I1-e1_1?;<;m:1;e111-*3 B2:.th_?{ mgs my 1121..vé- ‘ml ‘fkigiii in C2:-*..s_ar’s 'zi1ne~_, or %s_£1bseq11e11t1y ; but-_ .wze »-inay remarlr. xfmich $01}; ' 33211316 f:g’1~_At,e;1 days on 'B_29.r11az.:n Dewxzs, .. ;y11;¢1;%, they-_ .doubt1_es-5 pursued the «retifezgtfi -_i31éit0nVsA»1I;121y'.-2111‘ be seen from P21trixbQu.m:g;E, _ ;;i:1§.7e .1:¢;ft an_<:1;;_centra1 Onfrzs in pa1*tic111a_1“AIj1eing:fisfisiAle‘ (‘,‘,:‘l?:ZSA1{’;E3, 1rmg;:1_* ::1:;:M.;x;r~:1:‘_> *;a2\r<:,a.:x=:1—*sx=ix1:¢:z~:"z?. _ .1 9.9 that Ii: ' -in $p_1‘i11_g_, if 2w»ai;1ab‘l.e, wouifd figs: = Q1? vby. t1_1_e- $_c>1di<~:1*s, of C2x3sar’s army .W.ifl: §_;*e1‘11;1rk.s upon ’£1i1_<:? vestiges S-til} rexnaiiiiiig t__>_f-I ,;:a1np, w11iz:l1‘§ t,-1;1ox.1g11 n,<’:<:€.-s~. sa{ri1.y_ _impérféct, C0'rr{)’o<:31%z11;f:3 so F211? as ..they’ .g0., 3;1‘21§1iti-011211 sifie (311 B211*11am 1)ow;13,V “§~V—E3§ pzxgss .011 :9 his narrzaivag Q j__t1;e ‘evmaizs of the vfQ1§ufy:%i:1Tg his +firs:; xiigizit tg):. €':i1C,z1i11P1‘£1;€Bfv~- “ 212:3? gfi:-er_t113;t 11e’:_$s:§:: foot So1..di€1?-s__an'd 5.332 ‘Saree di,yi$ic>;1s 0x1, gm e.xpeciit.i..c}n__V"fQa§V jtfiilgg of foillg§xvii§g' 1.-xpj -$114338 “M10 113% p_u1js%a_ing f_:-Km ;C(>1‘3f€8p()'.I‘1d£”:§d xxvitin. fi:_e.— egg. d7i°s:ni,sio1:s of -Ca2as:1r’s zu-.1113; e2:.ch;. p1';:>$3;:;b}§f“ . ' _ing 2?m:(>11ti1I_g€~‘11’.£_, so as not rr1atc~:1*i::1:l1.y= 'to‘;xvt:;%~1_s:‘ei; T h1"&E3 ?»':' €i1'y zmcient. re-13413‘ '_by any age _.di:visi-en. 11$ m; ’:1j;e zpresent ‘day -[for r1101-*6: tlxzm mifks: 21 lmf, It is tl:1_:§3,*.:. in Cees21r’s tim.¢:- -:i::<::1,?ixfixt;1-3;‘ \3g',*_;1s mgjfa _t'hick,I.y WQc>__é.ed th3.1J..itis xg}"I3.ngh01_ .; . C ti-152 s:3ss;i-bily -=h2W%.e... been .c>x:;1e of -t-hi).-se exiezn;_so1*ized axnpfiiiéiategttres. x=;i3€13:~%S¥z%1;=1§_<_;h We. ljifizziw C»aasa;+’ szmgllt '2z1tizi‘1$r;°,11*£<;*:is§3.}1:-_» ~_:_§§3.id:§m§s,- whe1“x 721:3": in —ac:;u211 c0m};>m.- ; =t;2;?1-- days 21bf§.i§‘.1'i_t zfepziirixgg T1i1is such. €§I1I;éi4i’3;§1ii11i).€§§1tS wcm3..d_ _—c1_0ubtlesz;. 1:93 .re$01'mc3, tc)’ by his s€>l,di€ry who 1':§§27f1.£3.i11§:3fi_, 213- we S1131} herezzfgext =11:;stis:_::'3§ at. me :<;;u§1,}:3s-. . o‘i:nt»ed cut by ‘$16.5 a1'<:3i;112mc:.e S‘urveys1*s 011-t11eir»map.as “ Roman v<;§i1npf" may be seen at the eastern extremky uf -the: Dawns. It .513. not of Rmnan mt Bxjit-ish ‘v::<3:1's.true:t.§.011, but may v@,.ry- lvikeiy lzasze —bee:1 .:t1:sed*§)y Cz?£:s21r‘s army as an ou_;tpr;>st far 2-121.16% c’xeffe:3.<:ie:e _ of his camp o_n__ t.h:-3 .ex1:1.ie3"r1e Tim deep -d,i1:=ch_es by wihieljm i.t-- is. vS11rzf€3;111d.€.<_3, n.;1eeting - .—g:ie‘ 2111c>:'1_1er ‘ at »aeut_:_e { afford; gpror tection to sewzrzll h1‘.‘m.d1‘€§id -Q1821. . There appears to have been a 1;?m¢r‘» _ _ "‘11-:2; iiliere: is -21 ‘1fi.<:;«tEé€:i_ .:*:i)_1'.in,g_, ‘*whi:’<:11 is 'stil‘l' ‘_‘ The -.I{o:m111»’s This its in Zzxasvar’-s izime, or s_ubsequem:1y ; but. we .ma:y' Cf1}§ZS2\R’£i I. 13§?L._A‘I\’?I':3 m\z<:m~¢r1-=;~«z'*1§::\% '1; mg remarlg .21 .gpri11g, if zw.ai‘i2{b1,e, wcmld be mu<.jh _s0jL1g11t%‘fi§3:? :b_§?. $.<3}d.iers of C§zt§s;11f’s 2_m11iy wizile‘ ten‘ days can Bmlmam I)owns,. _i*éx1221i}1§:$_ upon 21:1:-'3 mstiges 31:11.}. rem:.iii;.i:1g of C2j§:«:.sar’s czunp, whiz:h, t11o.11g11_neces~ szxxviiy ixnpézéféét, c0rrQbc3;*;1£e, SC) fan: as they go, t1::§a::e :t1'2;dAi-tional site Q11 _IfBar11am 1I}<:>w:1s_, We, pzyss m1 is) his. n:u*-ratiw: o__ izey events of tlxe day f§_>1}.c§iWi11g his _first xlig‘-1119. éfilfiafifipiniéllti. "‘- .a,fte1*,th3,t day’ Sent; foot soldiers and »..i1E:a ‘three divisio;1s.Mo117a.1i €X'p€(1’.i;Yi.0I1‘bf‘0If vt'1‘-135: of fo1l;;mri:ag,' 11.}; those W110 had flcgdf’ V. p;:;zf§s:1§:1g for-cc: -cgaxwsponded with the di‘vi-sioxas of -C:#x:szau:’s am1y, 62:;-L<:}:; p1‘£>‘L);:1:;.1§g*‘ -f;i1j§.1i;$1f§e- - 311g 21 mntixagfint, so -218 vnot :nate1*i211l§*=t0'_\Vi231ie1?1. any one ,.difvisi.:m1. Three _vé:1*y ancimt: roads g§,7<;;hich they :c;1o;ubt1;es.$ pursued the :retr_eg£i=1jLg * B1*itcms may 2_J1_ be seen from 1’atrixbOu1fx._w; flgié 2>._i1<“1,;;£,‘£2’1_§.t_,1-‘"211 ones in pa1~ticui211*’b.ei‘ng;_ ;__le at jpreéexxtl ‘far nmcma than :1 Vziiiljé "22. .fi211f,“ It isAA;22?§;1;§;zer_ c};1;11ky sail, za.:;1.<1¥Qf<*15’Xi.1:::1g;-‘~<:a,1:1risiiag g*;w:)'und, anti‘ c:c§)11ve:*=gi11gT tmvards —i{;3’=:2it:x*E:;t¥:3