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five or six stones standing erect, with their edges north and south. They project 
from one to three feet above the turf, and bear evidence of much erosion; the 
avenue is in width about four feet, in length nine or ten feet. Fragments of 
stone lie scattered about more oz less buried in the soil and covered by turf. The 
whole stands on a mound of oval shape, its long axis twenty yards, its short axis 
ten yards. 
To this modern description we are fortunately enabled to add some most 
interesting particulars, written by an intelligent and competent observer, who 
made a personal inspection of this interesting object, at the beginning of the reign 
of Queen Anne, or about 180 years ago. 
In the first English Edition of Camden’s Britannia, which was published in 
the year 1610, no mention is made of Arthur’s Stone, nor is it marked on Speed’s 
Map of that date. The other writer referred to is Nathaniel Salmon, a Bachelor 
of Laws, Antiquary and Historian, who was born circa 1676, son of the Rev. 
Thomas Salmon, also an antiquary. In Salmon’s book, published in 1728 and 
1729, entitled ‘‘ A new Survey of England, wherein the defects of Camden are 
supplied and the errors of his followers remarked,” he says,—‘‘ The remarkable 
curiosity of Rolle-Rich Stones (in Oxfordshire) hath not been sufficiently 
explained, either as to the original Form of that Monument, the age of it, or 
the Intention of the Erection. Out of the several Guesses that have been made, 
some hints may be taken, and seem capable of Improvement.” 
‘“Comparing that of Stonehenge with this, and the other in Cornwall, 
mentioned by the Right Reverend Annotator upon Camden, and a fourth which I 
have seen about twenty-five years ago, in Herefordshire, I am of opinion they are 
all the work of the same age, and made with the same intention.” 
**Tf my conjecture be right that of Herefordshire having more Remains of its 
Ancient Figure than any of the rest, is first to be described.” 
“Upon a hill west of the river Wye above Bradwardyn Castle, in the way 
toward the Black Mountains, is a flat, oblong stone, or a number of stones 
joined together, lying upon the pedestals of rude upright stones fix’d in the earth, 
after the manner of Rolle-Rich. A great part of the work is entire ; the supporting 
stones being at the same distance from the verge of that they bear. The eastern 
point (as I remember it was eastern), is narrower than the rest as much as the 
eastern part of a gravestone. It seems to have increased in breadth toward the 
west, but the western end being demolished, as well the upper stones as the 
pedestals, neither the length of the whole nor the breadth of the western part can 
be determined. What remains (as I remember), was about six yards long, and 
two yards broad. The flat stone was then in three pieces, but the sides of those 
pieces answering one another, and not joining as they would have been made to 
do if they had been originally single, but indented like something broken, I take 
them to have been but one at first. From whatever quarry it was brought, or by 
whatever carriage, it hath the air of a natural stone, not of one put together with 
a strong cement. Its height from the ground was about twenty inches. I re- 
member the sheep of the country, which are small, sheltered themselves under it 
from the sun. The name by which the country people call this, is Artil’s Stone, 
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