A HISTORY OF LONDON patches of gravel of which it was formed were overgrown with trees and shrubs and intersected by numerous small streams. Most of these streams rose in the higher ground to the north and crossed the district of Finsbury, where they joined to form the stream known in later times as the Walbrook, which flowed southward, passing through the site now occupied by the Bank of England and onward to the Thames. Other streams from the east and west joined the main stream nearer its outfall, and these have been traced through the ground now occupied by Finsbury Circus, Austin Friars, and Throgmorton Avenue, and also beneath the Guildhall and Coleman Street. The advantage of this elevated ground, possessing as it did a supply of fresh water and so effectual a means of drainage, was recognized by the Roman settlers, and they appear from the first to have occupied both banks of the main stream and even to have built on piles in its bed. Considerable remains of these structures have been found throughout the stream within the City and extending on the north beyond the wall. The earlier City has not been proved by discoveries to have had any defined boundary or mural defence, although there may have been an earthen bank and ditch. Many massive walls have been found, but these appear to have inclosed detached areas containing groups of buildings which from the level of the pavements and other indications appear to have been erected at an early period. Buildings have been found resting on the original surface at such distant points as Warwick Square and Leadenhall Market, the remains of later structures being found at a higher level with many feet of accumulated soil interposed. The confines of the stream were evidently restricted at an early period and houses built on its embanked sides, but the records of discoveries are mostly inadequate and are too disconnected to afford any definite idea of the arrangement of the early City or the changes that took place in the times of its later development. The most complete plan of an important building is one referred to by Loftus Brock of the remains found at Leadenhall Market,*' which he describes as ' of considerable extent, with the foundation of an apse 33 feet wide' ; he also says that it appeared to have had the form of a basilica in some respects, with eastern apse, western nave, and two chambers like transepts on the south side, and a further note says that there was an apse at each end. Unfortunately, however, there is no detailed account of this discovery, and the plan is unpublished. Many of these walls still remain buried under the market, and some of them were recently opened up during drainage operations. Several tessellated pavements have been found here, and extending eastwards under the site of the East India House, while thick walls have been found con- tinuing across Gracechurch Street and Cornhill.™ Numerous remains of buildings have also been found over the whole district of Eastcheap and spreading, though not so plentifully, to the east as far as the Tower. On the site of the Coal Exchange, at a depth of 14 ft., were found in 1848 some considerable remains of a Roman house, a portion of which has been preserved and may be seen in the basement of the present build- ing (B and portion of E, Fig. 25). A further portion to the east was found in 1859 under the adjoining building, the whole forming a plan as shown. " Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc, joxvii, 84, 90. " Jrch. Ix, 224. 74
