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In the surrounding field； at a distance of 20 yards from the abbey；
the fine vegetable mould was 11 inches thick。
We may conclude from these facts that when the abbey was destroyed
and the stones removed； a layer of rubbish was left over the whole
surface； and that as soon as the worms were able to penetrate the
decayed concrete and the joints between the tiles； they slowly
filled up the interstices in the overlying rubbish with their
castings； which were afterwards accumulated to a thickness of
nearly three inches over the whole surface。 If we add to this
latter amount the mould between the fragments of stones； some five
or six inches of mould must have been brought up from beneath the
concrete or tiles。 The concrete or tiles will consequently have
subsided to nearly this amount。 The bases of the columns of the
aisles are now buried beneath mould and turf。 It is not probable
that they can have been undermined by worms； for their foundations
would no doubt have been laid at a considerable depth。 If they
have not subsided； the stones of which the columns were constructed
must have been removed from beneath the former level of the floor。
Chedworth； Gloucestershire。The remains of a large Roman villa
were discovered here in 1866； on ground which had been covered with
wood from time immemorial。 No suspicion seems ever to have been
entertained that ancient buildings lay buried here； until a
gamekeeper； in digging for rabbits； encountered some remains。 ｛55｝
But subsequently the tops of some stone walls were detected in
parts of the wood； projecting a little above the surface of the
ground。 Most of the coins found here belonged to Constans （who
died 350 A。D。） and the Constantine family。 My sons Francis and
Horace visited the place in November 1877； for the sake of
ascertaining what part worms may have played in the burial of these
extensive remains。 But the circumstances were not favourable for
this object； as the ruins are surrounded on three sides by rather
steep banks； down which earth is washed during rainy weather。
Moreover most of the old rooms have been covered with roofs； for
the protection of the elegant tesselated pavements。
A few facts may； however； be given on the thickness of the soil
over these ruins。 Close outside the northern rooms there is a
broken wall； the summit of which was covered by 5 inches of black
mould； and in a hole dug on the outer side of this wall； where the
ground had never before been disturbed； black mould； full of
stones； 26 inches in thickness； was found； resting on the
undisturbed sub…soil of yellow clay。 At a depth of 22 inches from
the surface a pig's jaw and a fragment of a tile were found。 When
the excavations were first made； some large trees grew over the
ruins； and the stump of one has been left directly over a party…
wall near the bath…room； for the sake of showing the thickness of
the superincumbent soil； which was here 38 inches。 In one small
room； which； after being cleared out； had not been roofed over； my
sons observed the hole of a worm passing through the rotten
concrete； and a living worm was found within the concrete。 In
another open room worm…castings were seen on the floor； over which
some earth had by this means been deposited； and here grass now
grew。
Brading； Isle of Wight。A fine Roman villa was discovered here in
1880； and by the end of October no less than 18 chambers had been
more or less cleared。 A coin dated 337 A。D。 was found。 My son
William visited the place before the excavations were completed；
and he informs me that most of the floors were at first covered
with much rubbish and fallen stones； having their interstices
completely filled up with mould； abounding； as the workmen said；
with worms； above which there was mould without any stones。 The
whole mass was in most places from 3 to above 4 ft。 in thickness。
In one very large room the overlying earth was only 2 ft。 6 in。
thick； and after this had been removed； so many castings were
thrown up between the tiles that the surface had to be almost daily
swept。 Most of the floors were fairly level。 The tops of the
broken…down walls were covered in some places by only 4 or 5 inches
of soil； so that they were occasionally struck by the plough； but
in other places they were covered by from 13 to 18 inches of soil。
It is not probable that these walls could have been undermined by
worms and subsided； as they rested on a foundation of very hard red
sand； into which worms could hardly burrow。 The mortar； however；
between the stones of the walls of a hypocaust was found by my son
to have been penetrated by many worm…burrows。 The remains of this
villa stand on land which slopes at an angle of about 3 degrees；
and the land appears to have been long cultivated。 Therefore no
doubt a considerable quantity of fine earth has been washed down
from the upper parts of the field； and has largely aided in the
burial of these remains。
Silchester； Hampshire。The ruins of this small Roman town have
been better preserved than any other remains of the kind in
England。 A broken wall； in most parts from 15 to 18 feet in height
and about 1。5 mile in compass； now surrounds a space of about 100
acres of cultivated land； on which a farm…house and a church stand。
｛56｝ Formerly； when the weather was dry； the lines of the buried
walls could be traced by the appearance of the crops； and recently
very extensive excavations have been undertaken by the Duke of
Wellington； under the superintendence of the late Rev。 J。 G。 Joyce；
by which means many large buildings have been discovered。 Mr。
Joyce made careful coloured sections； and measured the thickness of
each bed of rubbish； whilst the excavations were in progress； and
he has had the kindness to send me copies of several of them。 When
my sons Francis and Horace visited these ruins； he accompanied
them； and added his notes to theirs。
Mr。 Joyce estimates that the town was inhabited by the Romans for
about three centuries； and no doubt much matter must have
accumulated within the walls during this long period。 It appears
to have been destroyed by fire； and most of the stones used in the
buildings have since been carried away。 These circumstances are
unfavourable for ascertaining the part which worms have played in
the burial of the ruins； but as careful sections of the rubbish
overlying an ancient town have seldom or never before been made in
England； I will give copies of the most characteristic portions of
some of those made by Mr。 Joyce。 They are of too great length to
be here introduced entire。
An east and west section； 30 ft。 in length； was made across a room
in the Basilica； now called the Hall of the Merchants （Fig。 9）。
The hard concrete floor； still covered here and there with
tesserae； was found at 3 ft。 beneath the surface of the field；
which was here level。 On the floor there were two large piles of
charred wood； one alone of which is shown in the part of the
section here given。 This pile was covered by a thin white layer of
decayed stucco or plas