ditch,’ and pits containing Roman pottery and glass were found about the middle of the north wall of the north nave aisle.⁴⁸  In 1876, during the underpinning of the outer wall of the south aisle of the nave, a foundation, thought to be that of an apse and a second wall to the west of it, were discovered, while both to the west and the east of the apse was a floor of opus signinum. That to the west, i.e. within the apse, was covered with a thick layer of wood— ashes.⁴⁸  Sir William Hope suggested that the building might be of Saxon date; it is perhaps worth noting, however, that its orientation corresponds with that of the nearest stretch of Roman town-wall and differs from that of the foundations of the adjacent Saxon church.
   To the south-west of the Cathedral, in Boley Hill Street, ‘opposite the office of Messrs. Knight and Arnold . . . at about the depth of from 2 to 3 ft., a strong Roman wall was laid open for a short distance,’ but no details are given.⁴⁷
   In 1897 the foundations of a Roman building were partially uncovered on the southern edge of the yard of the police station at a depth of upwards of 14 ft. from the level of High Street. ‘A wall was met with running north and south, 5 ft. of its length being composed of flints set in a brownish coloured mortar of the finest quality ; the remaining 2 ft. of the wall was constructed with layers of broken tile bedded in mortar mixed with pounded tile, joints as wide as the tiles. The whole mass of masonry visible was from 3 ft. 4 in. to 3 ft.10 in. in width, but how much wider could not be ascertained. On its western side was a wall, 22 in. in width, running in a westerly direction, half its width being built with flints, the other half with tiles laid in courses. This wall turned to the north, thus forming the angle of a compartment.’ There were also evidences of reconstruction, but since the whole excavation only measured 7 ft. by 6 ft. nothing could be ascertained as to the purpose of the building.⁴⁸
   In 1905, during the laying of cables along the High Street, Roman foundations consisting ‘of tiles and flints buried in exceedingly hard mortar’ were found ‘in front of the King’s Head Hotel and Commin’s shop adjoining.’ Roofing and flue tiles were also turned up.
   A wall over 10 ft. deep and 2 ft. thick, built of irregular blocks of Kentish rag, with a double bonding-course of tiles, and a return-wall, were found in a garden behind Barclays Bank in High Street, 63 ft. south of the Roman north-east wall.
   ‘Foundations of buildings with indications apparently of a watergate . . . Sarmian ware and other Roman relics’ were found in 1863 in building an inn near the ‘Crown,’ apparently on the south-west side of High Street and Close to the bridge.
   Only two cemeteries have been found near Rochester on the eastern bank of the Medway; but two others on the western bank, at Strood, may perhaps be connected with Rochester, since no houses have yet been discovered near them, though numerous rubbish pits suggested habitation (see Top. Index s.v. Strood).
   (1)  There appears to have been a large cemetery at Boley Hill, just outside the south-west wall of the town. With the exception of a fragment of leaden coffin, decorated with astragalus and cockleshell pattern, found in
   ⁴⁵  Arch. Cant. xxi, 13.               ⁴⁶  Ibid. xxiii, 214, and p1. ii, plan.
   ⁴⁷  Ibid. xxi, 6.                              ⁴⁸  Ibid. xxii, lxi.