LS5 



Clje Camj' at ^^meski'g, rommoulg callelr 



I^^HE camp near Amesburj-, between Stonehenge and the town, 

 upon elevated ground, was, according to Stukeley, commonly 

 calledVespasian% and he endorses the name. It is locally known as 

 " the ramparts/' Sir R. Hoare considei's that this was originally the 

 stronghold of those numerous Britons who inhabited the plains 

 around Stonehenge, an asylum in times of danger, for their wives, 

 children, and cattle ; and that like other camps of the same kind, 

 it was occupied, as occasion or necessity required, by Romans, 

 Saxons, and Danes. " It occupies the apex of a hill, surrounded 

 on two sides, east and south, by the river Avon, and comprehends 

 within its area 39 acres. It extends in length from south to north, 

 and terminates in a narrow rounded angle at the latter point. It 

 was surrounded by a single vallum, which has been much mutilated 

 on the east side in forming the pleasure grounds of Amesbury 

 Park. The ramparts on the western side towards Stonehenge, are 

 very bold and perfect. It appears to have had two entrances, north 

 and south ; the former still remains perfect and undoubted. The 

 area is planted and fancifully disposed in avenues, walks, &c., near 

 the principal one of which, and on the highest ground, is the 

 appearance of a barrow, but much disfigured in its form.'' The 

 camp is divided by the high road which passes Stonehenge. In 

 Stukeley's Common-Place Book, is the following mention of it : 

 " The walls, Vespasian's camp, as believ'd. The people of Ames- 

 bury say the area of it is 40 acres, single trench, one grafE towards 

 Stonehenge." In his " Stonehenge described," he describes the 

 camp as " an oblong square, nicely placed upon a flexure of the river, 

 which closes one side and one end of it. There is an old barrow ' 

 inclos'd in it, which doubtless was one of those belonging to this 

 plain, and to the temple of Stonehenge, before this camp was made.'' 



