Sir,—All who are interested in the buried history of Roman Britain will gratefully appreciate the aerial photographs that have been taken by Mr. Crawford.
The advantages that would result from a photographic survey of Uriconium have been admirably suggested by Mr.Newman. This, once one of the largest cities in Britain, covered an area of 170 acres, of which only a small portion has been excavated. If a plan of the streets could be obtained, not only would the work be facilitated, but the cost reduced.
The buildings, so far discovered, were placed on the lines of streets, most of which have been obliterated by modern civilisation. Minor discoveries have been made in isolated places, and if only the lines of the streets were known further discoveries would be feasible. It is proposed to excate the site of the principal cemetery in the late autumn; this was partially done many years ago, but the boundaries are not known.
Already the outlines of the foundations of the basilica can be traced in the parched soil,
and it is probable that aerial photography would reveal the positions of other buildings beneath the soil.
Many roads concentrated on Uriconium; their general direction is known, but in places the track,
including that which crossed the river, is lost beneath the turf.—Yours faithfully,
J.A. Morris
The Priory,
Severn Hill,
Shrewsbury.
July 16, 1923.
Source info: Found in library.