24 ANTIQUARIAN INVESTIGATIONS ON DARTMOOR. 



These ancient erections, when near streams, were probably 

 intended for the procession of the consecrated boat ; in situations 

 remote from waters, it is more probable that they were constructed 

 for gymnastic performances in connexion with the celebration of 

 religious worship. 



The largest and most perfect relic of this class is in the ancient 

 British village, near Merivale Bridge. Here is a pair of avenues 

 parallel to each other, one hundred and five feet apart, running 

 east and west ; the longest one thousand one hundred and forty- 

 three feet, the shortest seven hundred and ninety-two feet. The 

 stones of which they are formed are scarcely two feet above the 

 ground, placed at irregular distances, but generally about tliree 

 feet and a half apart. The shortest terminates in a circle, and the 

 longest has a circle at mid-length. The shortest, at its east end, 

 has a stone of larger dimensions ; and in the other avenue opposite 

 to it, is a correspondmg block, although in this it seems at a dis- 

 tance from the termination of its avenue. The western half of 

 this avenue is divided at mid-length by a higher stone, and ends 

 with two stones now recumbent. 



A similar pair of avenues, but not so extensive in their plan, is 

 found, in connexion with other similar antiquities, on the brook 

 side, below Black tor. The stones there employed in the con- 

 struction, are two feet and a half high. A stream forms the 

 western termination of both of these avenues, the southern is to 

 be traced about one hundred and eighty feet, and the northern, 

 which is much more perfect and distinct, three hundred. They 

 are forty feet apart, and run parallel to each other, due east and 

 west, and each is terminated at the east end by a circle, thirty 

 feet in diameter, inclosing a cairn. The stones at the head of the 

 avenues, as in the former example, being of larger dimensions 

 than the others. 



In both these instances the avenues run east and west; but 

 others are found in the direction of north and south. A single 

 avenue of this kind occurs on Challacombe down, three hundred 

 feet in length ; — another on Gidleigh common, four hundred and 

 two feet in length, and four feet and a half in breadth ; the latter 

 is formed in connexion with a singular set of concentric circles. 

 In this locality is another pair of parellel avenues in the same 

 direction, in which many of the stones are three feet and a half 

 high, of a triangular shape, the points forming a very acute angle. 

 It is probable that a considerable portion of the eastern avenue 

 has been destroyed, as only one hundred and twenty-three feet 



