Church is dedicated to St. Michael, and consists only of a nave and chancel of one pace, opening to each other by a semicircular arch: the windows seem to have been of the lancet form, but have been opened in the pointed manner. Against the south wall is a marble tablet, inscribed in memory of G. GIPPS, Esq. who died in February, 1800, at the age of seventy-two, having represented the city of Canterbury in four Parliaments. He resided at HALL PLACE, in this Parish, and the estate is now occupied by his widow, but it belongs to Sir Robert Wilmot, Bart. of Chaddesden, in Derbyshire: the grounds and the situation of the house are very pleasant.

CANTERBURY.

THE origin of this distinguished CITY is unknown, but there can be little doubt of its having been a settlement of the Britons long antecedent to the Roman invasion. Its very name, indeed, as latinized by the Romaus, is sufficient to indicate, that it was in existence before their arrival; for whether the term DUROVERNUM, be composed of the words Dur-whern, a rapid stream; Dwr-avona,t the river-water; Dur-ar-guerne, the water near the fen or marsh; or Dur-Aber, the mouth or discharge of the water; it must still be admitted to be derived from the British language. Geoffrey of Monmouth carries its antiquity to the time of Rudhudibras, who, according to this historian, lived about 900 years prior to the birth of Christ; but his testimony has been discredited by every subsequent authority. The Glain naidr, or Druidical beads, are stated to have been frequently found here, as well as the British weapons called celts.||

The proofs of the Roman occupation of Canterbury are distinct and numerous. In the Itinerary of Antoninus, it occurs by the appellation of Durovernum; and the roads to the Portus Rutupensis, to Dover, and to Lymne, branched off from this city. Many

Camden.

↑ Leland. + Lambard

Gough, Pennant, Hasted, and Gostling.

coins

§ Pennant.

coins and Roman vessels have been dug up here, together with remains of buildings, and tessellated pavements of curious workmanship: in the city walls, numerous Roman bricks have been found incorporated; and three semicircular arches, formed with the same materials, were standing till towards the latter end of the past century.* In the time of Charles the First, some Roman arched brick-work was discovered about five or six feet below the ground, in sinking a cellar in Castle Street. At the beginning of

the

Two of these were at Riding-Gate, through which the Watling Street entered the Castle precincts from Dover: the third was called Worth-gate, and formed the ancient entrance from the Ashford road. The late John Thorpe, Esq. of Bexley, has thus described it in the first part of his Antiquities in Kent. "Worth-gate is, without doubt, the finest remnant of antiquity in this city, and perhaps the most entire of its kind in the kingdom.—The boldness of the arch, consisting entirely of Roman bricks, strikes the eye of the beholder with a kind of veneration. In the inside, next the castle-yard, the ground has been raised so much from time to time, that no more than one foot six inches of the stone piers, or columns to the springs of the arch, are now to be seen; but when viewed on the garden side in the city ditch, the gate makes a noble appearance, as the height of the piers is seven feet six inches. These piers are composed of a kind of rag-stone, two feet six inches in breadth, which appear to have been squared, but are now irregular and uneven, from being much corroded, and mouldered away, through the great length of time; whilst the arch, which consists of a double row of bricks, remains as fine and durable as ever; so well had the Romans the art of tempering and burning their clay. The length of the longest brick, on the Castle side, is one foot five inches; the depth of the thickest, three inches. The following measurements I took in the year 1771: in the inside, the diameter of the arch is 12 feet 3 inches; it springs from the piers 6 feet, and half an inch; the piers are above ground, I foot 6 inches. On the ditch side, the height of the plinth is one foot; from that to the spring of the arch, 6 feet 6 inches; breadth of the gateway, from pier to pier, 12 feet 6 inches; height of the gate in the middle, 13 feet 7 inches; thickness of the arch, 2 feet 4 inches: the earth raised on the castle side, 6 feet." This account is illustrated by two views of the opposite sides of the gate.

Battely's Edit. of Somner's Canterbury, p. 188.

the last century, the remains of a foundation of Roman bricks were also found in digging a cellar in the Parish of St. Alphage, and several of the bricks, measuring seventeen inches and a half, by eleven inches and three quarters, were taken up whole; and "I am told," says Battely, who mentions the last discovery," of a Roman pavement of mosaick work, whereof I have some of the little square stones by me, found in digging a cellar in St. Margaret's Parish." In the year 1730, as appears from the Minutes of the Society of Antiquaries, quoted by Mr. Gough, a fine Roman vase of red earth, of an elegant shape and pattern, with the inscription TARAGET DE TEVE, was found near this city, toge ther with a brass lachrymatory.† This gentleman has also engraved a representation of a Roman altar, formerly in the possession of the late Rev. W. Gostling, of this city. Hasted mentions another Roman pavement, discovered near Jewry Lane, in the year 1739, not more than three or four feet below the level of the ground. The tessera were of "burnt earth, red, yellow, black, and white; their shape and sizes different; some near an inch over; others very small, laid on a bed of cement of such hardness, and so thick, that with care it might have been preserved entire, but, for want of that, it was broken into three or four pieces, some of which were afterwards carried away and joined." The whole extent could not be ascertained for party walls; what was saved, was about three feet broad, and five long.

In the time of the Saxons, Canterbury obtained the appellation of Cant-wara-byrg, or the Kentishmen's city; and Bede, speaking of it in reference to the arrival of St. Augustine, calls it Caput Imperij Regis Ethelberti; the chief place in all the dominion of King Ethelbert.' On the conversion of this Monarch to Christianity, he relinquished his Palace here, and granted it in perpetuity to Augustine, and his successors, together with the lands which afterwards formed the immediate demesnes of Christ Church.

Soon afterwards,

Battely's Somner, p. 102.

+ Additions to Camden, Vol. I. p. 236.

Ibid. pl. 13. fig. 11.