and I suspect that the researches of others will rather tend to confirm my conclusions than otherwise. At any rate, I have endeavoured to place the subject of ancient Roman Maidstone on a tangible basis, and if my ideas on its features prove correct, it will afford an answer to the question which is no doubt occasionally asked among the inhabitants, of the whereabouts of the Roman station and original settlement at this now flourishing county-town.
   I should not omit to add that the accompanying plan of the station Vagniacae will show many details of its situation, and of that of some adjoining places which have been mentioned in these pages.^{1
   1} A few lines may be perhaps usefully bestowed to show briefly the reasons for placing the station Vagniacae at Maidstone: or, as said before, the portion of the double station so called, the name being in the plural number. According to the Itinerary of Antoninus (Iter ii), Vagniacae, under whatever form it may have been, whether divided or single, should be the first station from Durobrivae on the road to London: and though it is conceded that there is a Roman road from Durobrivae, or Rochester, through Southfleet, Dartford, "Welling, and Deptford to London, yet it is believed, from the impediment of three formerly considerable estuaries or arms of the Thames which crossed this line of road, that the transit in this direction must have been somewhat difficult. There are certainly no recognised Roman bridges or, embankments over them. It is therefore inferred from this circumstance that the usual main line of communication for the Roman legions with their baggage and encumbrances was from Durobrivae, or Rochester, through Maidstone or Aylesford, as the tide might suit, and thence onwards through Oldbury camp and Keston to London. Agreeably to this idea the line by Southfleet and Deptford was only formed as a summer road, as some Roman roads are known to have been in Germany, for the transit and despatch of couriers and light troops in cases of emergency ; who might have passed by means of boats. Thus Antoninus, in his Iters ii, iii, and iv, gives two distances respectively between London and Durobrivae for the two lines of road, namely, xxvii miles for the summer road, that over the estuaries, which is correct, and xxxvii (xlii) for the other.
   The above is very much corroborated, and indeed almost rendered impossible  to be doubted, from the statement in Antoninus that the Roman military road passed through or by Noviomagus (Keston), which place the road by Southfleet, Dartford, Welling, and Deptford leaves far away, many miles over hill and dale, to the south.