London before the Conquest

London before the Conquest
By W. R. Lethaby

CONTENTS
Introduction
Fig. 1.--Goddess of Hope (Roman Bronze Found in London).
Chapter 1. Origins--The Legend of London--The British Church--The English Come to London--Alfred’s London
Fig. 2.--Stone Weapons from the Thames.
Fig. 3.--Centre of Celtic Bronze Shield from the Thames.
Fig. 4.--Celtic Bronze Swords.
Fig. 5.--Coin of Cunobelin (Enlarged).
Fig. 6.--Bronze Lamp, Roman, Found in London.
Fig. 7.--Coin of Claudius and Another of Constantius, the Latter Inscribed London (P.Lon.). Enlarged.
Fig. 8.--Christian Monogram from Cakes of Pewter Found at Battersea.
Fig. 9.--Bronze Bracelet.
Fig. 10.--Head of a Pin.
Fig. 11.--Enamelled Plate.
Fig. 12.--Cross from Mosaic Pavement Found in London.
Fig. 13.--Saxon Spear.
Fig. 14.--Coin of Halfdan with Monogram of London.
Fig. 15.--Saxon Swordhilt.
Chapter 2. Rivers and Fords
Fig. 16.--Earliest Printed View of London from the Chronycle of Englonde, Pynson 1510.
Chapter 3. Roads and the Bridge
Fig. 17.--London and the Roman Roads.
Chapter 4. The Walls, Gates, and Quays
Fig. 18.--Roman Wall of London.
Fig. 19.--Detail of Roman Wall of London.
Fig. 20.--From the Common Seal. Reverse, Enlarged, 1224.
Fig. 21.--Section of Roman Wall and Ditch.
Fig. 22.--From Matthew Paris, 1236.
Fig. 23.--The Common Seal of London, 1224.
Fig. 24.--Fragment Found in the South Wall.
Fig. 25.--Fragment Found in South Wall.
Chapter 5. The Citadel--Southwark--The Danes’ Quarter--The Portlands and Cnihtengild
Fig. 26.--Danish Sword from the Thames.
Chapter 6. The Wards and Parishes--The Palace
Fig. 27.--Plan Showing the Relation of the Central Wards and the Principal Streets
Chapter 7. Streets--Craft Gilds and Schools--Churches
Fig. 28.--Saxon Brooch Found in Cheapside.
Fig. 29.--Coin of Alfred with Monogram of London. Enlarged.
Fig. 30.--Tomb of King Ethelred in Old St. Paul’s.
Fig. 31.--Ninth or Tenth Century Tombstone from St. Paul’s Churchyard.
Fig. 32.--Saxon Tomb from St. Benet Fink. Restored.
Fig. 33.--Head of Cross from St. John’s, Walbrook.
Fig. 34.--Saxon Coffin-Lid from Westminster Abbey.
Chapter 8. The Guildhall--London Stone--Town Bell and Folkmote
Chapter 9. The Government of Early London
Chapter 10. Londinium
Fig. 35.--Roman Pavement. Drawn In Situ by Fairholt, 1854.
Fig. 36.--Roman Brick Inscribed London.
Fig. 37.--Inscription from Roman Brick.
Fig. 38.--Roman Tomb, from Outside of the East Walls. Restored.
Fig. 39.--Inscription from Roman Tomb.
Fig. 40.--End of a Roman Tomb Found in London.
Fig. 41.--Leaden Cist.
Fig. 42.--Plate of Figured Glass for Decoration.
Fig. 43.--Roman Inscription.
Appendix on Materials for the Construction of Maps of Early London


Introduction

A great burh, Lundunaborg, which is the greatest and most famous of all burhs in the northern lands.--Ragnar Lodbrok Saga.
Of the hundreds of books concerning London, there is not one which treats of its ancient topography as a whole. There are, it is true, a great number of studies dealing in an accurate way with details, and most of the general histories incidentally touch on questions of reconstruction. Of these, the former are, of course, the more valuable from the topographical point of view, yet even an exhaustive series of such would necessarily be inadequate for representing to us the ancient city in a comprehensive way.
In an inquiry as to the ancient state of a city, a general survey, besides bringing isolated details into due relation, may suggest new matter for consideration in regard to them, and offer fresh points of proof. For instance, the extra-mural roads were directed to the several gates, the gates governed the internal streets, while these streets ran through wards, and gave access to churches and other buildings.

The subject of London topography is such an enormous one, and the involutions of unfounded conjecture are so manifold, that an approximation to the facts can only be obtained by a critical
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