The Ruins of the Roman City of Uriconium

About The Ruins of the Roman City of Uriconium

It is the aim of the following pages to give the degree and kind of popular information believed to be wanted by the numerous visitors to the excavations at Wroxeter, who have no Guide to explain what they see, and are not possessed of that amount of minute antiquarian knowledge which would enable them to understand everything without such explanation. It is the first instance in which there has been, in this country, the chance of penetrating into a city of more than fourteen centuries ago, on so large a scale, and with such extensive remains of its former condition; and when the visitor has walked over the floors which had been trodden last, before they were thus uncovered, by the Roman inhabitants of this island, he will appreciate more justly, and with greater interest, the objects which have been discovered, and are deposited in the Museum, at Shrewsbury; and he will learn to look forward with hope to the light which a continuance of these excavations must throw upon the condition and history of this country at so remote a period. Whatever this light may be, it must not be p. ivforgotten that we shall be indebted for it, in the first place, to his Grace the Duke of Cleveland, who has shown a generous public feeling in giving permission and encouragement to the excavations on his land, and to the late B. Botfield, Esq., M.P., through whose zeal and liberality in the undertaking the excavators were set at work, when as yet it was uncertain if their labours would be attended with any success. I have endeavoured to fulfil literally the title of this little book, and to give the visitor such information as he would seek from a professional Guide, whilst I have gladly left the description of the Museum, and especially of those rather numerous human remains which form so remarkable a part of our discoveries, to one best qualified for that task, Dr. Henry Johnson, who has so ably and zealously directed the excavations on the spot, and who has thus, unremunerated, given to the service of the public so much of his valuable time.