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A Fourteenth- Century Altarpiece from Sutton Valence
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( 153 )
(Stntv&l Notes anO ©omsjiotttott)*.
EOCHESTEE BEIDGE.
Pairseat House,
Wrotham, Kent.
March 3rd, 1922.
DEAR SIB,
May I point Out an error in the interesting paper
on Eochester Bridge by Mr. John J. Eobson in Vol. XXXV.
of Archceologia Cantiana ? On page 140 he says the Eoman
occupation of Britain extended over about 458 years, prior to
406 A.D. Mr. Eobson evidently has reckoned from the date
of the invasion of Julius Caesar to the departure of the
Eomans. The first invasion took place in August 55 B.C.
and the Eomans left England in the following month.
Julius Caesar made his second invasion in July 54 B.C. and
remained about two months. Occupation by the Eomans
dates from the invasion of Claudius in 43 A.D., when they
came to stay, and the final evacuation took place between
406 and 410 A.D. Consequently the period of occupation
was at most only about 367 years.
As regards the question whether the Eoman bridge at
Eochester was a timber structure, or of stone arches, or with
stone piers and a wooden super-structure, I think it most
probable that it was a stone arched bridge. The Eoman
engineers were perfectly cornpetent to build such a structure,
and did so in many places on the Continent. This particular
crossing must have been one of the most important in
England.
Yours faithfully,
WM. PITT.
1 5 4 GENERAL NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE.
MONUMENTAL INSCEIPTION IN MEMOEY OP
EICHAED AUSTEN AND HIS DAUGHTEE
ELIZABETH.
" Ailsa,"
Birchington.
September 3rd, 1921.
DEAB SIB,
In Vol. XIV. of Archceologia Cantiana, at the foot
of page 120, is given a rendering of the inscription on the
flat stone to the memory of Eichard Austen and his daughter
Elizabeth. The transcript was necessarily incomplete, the
original being then partly hidden by a pew. The latter
oeing now (it is hoped permanently)' removed, I was enabled
about twelve months ago to obtain a full copy of the text of
the inscription:—
" Here lieth the body of | RICHABD AUSTEN of the | Baye at
Ickhain in the | County of Kent, Yeoman | who had to wife
MABT I the second daughter of | Vincent Nethersole | of Wyming-