The following specimens, which are not selected as being in every respect the most remarkable, and which may be largely increased in number, will serve to show the changes which time makes even in some of our large towns and cities. A few inland specimens are selected, and a few maritime ones, in both of which it seem as if a certain amount of fashion had prevailed. When a place obtains the reputation of increasing rapidly, it becomes popularised, and mankind is anxious to share in its alleged prosperity. But when, on the contrary, it is said to be "going downhill", suspicion is exited, and even those who felt sufficiently comfortable, become inclined to retire from it.

 

It was at one time that I myself had thoughts of moving to better quarters, shying away from this town because of its large areas of deriliction, but over the past 5 years there has been a remarkable improvement, so the city fathers are much improved in their coffers in the form on rate charges. I once read of a traveller passing through a deserted town in the twighlight of a summer evening. It was Statford-on-Slaney, in the county of Wicklow, which was built about 1820 by a former Earl of Aldborough.

At that time there were extensive calico printing-works, established in the neighbourhood, and it was thought that it might become a manufacturing town. It contained, at one time, nearly a thousand inhabitants, and about nine hundred from the town and the adjoining neighbourhood were employed in the works. In 1852 there were but a few of the cottages occupied, the majority had begun to showmarked symptoms of decay.

Let me start firstly with inland towns, Roman Uriconium as an instance. This was an ancient city on the borders of Wales; and it was a Roman station of no small importance so early as the second century. In the fifth century it was one of the largest towns in the kingdom. It suffered, like many others on differing levels, from the incursions of barbarians about the period of the arrival of the Saxons, and before they had reached this westerly point. It is supposed that it was utterly destroyed, and its inhabitants put to the sword, about the year 450; and so completely was it obliterated that its identity with Wroxeter was not suspected.

 

Nothing remained during the 1850's but a portion of old wall above ground, and the place then assumed the name "Old Walls". It had been disinterred since then and is now shown in all its glory, and has attracted great attention, not only from archaeologists but also from the public in general. Of course, however, only a small portion has been shown, of a town that was three miles in circumference.

Secondly, we have Old Sarum. Like the town of Dunwich which will be mention shortly, this place was inhabited in succession by Britons, Romans, and Saxons; and, at the period of Heptarchy, it was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex.

During the early part of our English history it was one of the most important towns in the kingdom, having been fortified by order of King Alfred. It shared, however, in the misfortunes of the period, having been devastated by the Danes under Sweyn, in 1003 A.D. After the conquest it became the seat of the bishopric, because it was a fortified city; and in 1086, on the completion of the Domesday Survey, the various grades of nobility were summoned there to meet the king.

It is unnecessary to give more than an outline of its history. Owing to a scarcity of water, so it was said, and frequent disputes between the civil and military authorities, the see was removed to Salisbury in 1217, and from this period this may date its decline. A few houses remained to the time of Henry VIII. and service was performed in the chapel of the deserted cathedral, but now nothing remains.

From the 34th Edward III, till the passing of the Reform bill, it sent two members to parliament, and six or seven burgesses, to whom alone the franchise belonged, conducted the election under the branches of a spreading-tree.

 

Thirdly there was Roxburh. This was, at one time, the fourth city in all Scotland, in population and importance. It was a borough, with the usual adjuncts of provost, baillies, and town council. It had several churches and hospitals, and was particularly celebrated for its schools and flourishing markets. It had also a large castle for the protection of the town and neighbourhood, and at its market-cross proclamations was made so recently as 1516.

It was found, however, that both English and Scots feared that the castle might afford protection to their apponents, and thus it attracted the very dangers which it was intended to avert, until population gradually withdrew from an uncomfortable neighbourhood and sought situations of less pretension but of more security. In 1810 its history was written:

"Of the town not a stone remains to mark its site, and were it not for the evidence derived from history, charters, and other documents, it might well be doubted whether on the fields in which cattle now graze, or which does the husbandman carefully till, a powerful city once flourished. A small portion of the ruins of the castle remains to mark the place where, in former days, kings held their courts, and where the nobles of either kingdom performed deeds of valour in the battlefield, or called forth the admiration of the spectator in the tournament. Doubts were entertained by many as to the exact site of the town."

 

This can be found in Jeffrey's History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire.