Gents Mag 1851 part 2 p.385

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1851 part 2 p.385 floor of one of the largest of these is supported by no less than forty-eight columns of masonry of about two feet square; another room has twenty-four; in a third the floor is laid upon pillars of tiles interspersed with some of stone, a few of which had apparently previously joined the capitals of columns in some decayed or destroyed building; the floors are composed of large slabs of stone. These apartments were heated by hypocausts, and many of them have been provided with double doors. The houses both here and at Borcovicus are pretty clearly indicated in the pasturage, and it would be raising expectation too high or promising too much were I to say that, as at both these great stations the foundations of the buildings appear to have been undisturbed, it is probable pretty correct plans of the entire distribution of the areas might be obtained by excavations. On the outside of these castra, chiefly on the south, were villas and houses, indications of which are so numerous as to warrant our using the terms villages and towns. Beyond these are the burial-places, where the greater part of the inscriptions are found. It is in these memorials we read much of the history of the places. To cite, for example, one found at Chesters many years ago. It commemorates the restoration of a temple, which had become decayed through age, by soldiers of the second wing of the Astures, a people of Spain, in the time of Elagabalus, under the consulate of Gratus and Seleucus, answering to our A.D. 221. Now upwards of one hundred years after this date we find the same wing of the the Astures located here, a coincidence between the Notitia and inscriptions which occurs frequently along the line of the wall. The great importance of monuments such as these must beget a desire that the stations on the line of the wall should be thoroughly excavated, as it is more than probable there are numerous inscribed stones still remaining buried, especially when it is considered that those hitherto discovered were brought to light through accidental circumstances, and not from intentional research. At Chesters Mr. Clayton has preserved numerous interesting remains discovered there and at Housesteads. The following mutilated inscription is worthy of notice, as recording a soldier of Pannonia (Dagvaldus) and a female, Pusinna, probably a near relative: D. M. .. DAGVALD . MI .. .. PAN . VIXIT . A .. .. PUSINNA .. .. XXIT . VI . Few travellers will be induced to seek the eastern terminus of the wall in the busy scene of Wallsend, the site of Segdunum, where but little either of the Roman wall or the station is to be seen above ground. The site of the latter is, however, with some difficulty to be traced upon the brow of a rising ground overlooking the Tyne, like that of Lymne in Kent, in relation to the Romney marshes. From Wallsend to Newcastle every stone has been removed for cottages and houses; but the foundation of the wall still obstructs the plough, and by means of its accompanying vallum its course can still be traced almost up to Newcastle. Westward, therefore, from this great and populous town the antiquary will probably commence his tour of the wall. He must first be apprised that for nineteen miles the wall has been levelled by order of the Government to form a high road, and that, for this extent, with some few exceptions caused by the obstructions of farm-houses, hills, and other impediments, the modern road is constructed upon the foundations of the wall. Walking in the centre of the road he may detect the facing stones of the Roman structure on his right and left. This great legalised piece of vandalism throws into the shade a century of petty pilferings and almost makes venial a thousand acts of destruction perpetuated by ignorant individuals. It is in this district where
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	-- Hadrian's Wall
	-- Tynemouth to Carlisle
	-- Cilurnum
	-- Segedunum

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