266 The Downs. 



for what purpose it was thus raised on hill and in valley alike, it 

 is is difficult to determine ; possibly the idea may have been that 

 the most eflfective drainage was thus secured. 



Another interesting relic of the Roman occupation of this part 

 of the country is presented by the earthwork, known as Soldier's 

 Ring, in the parish of Daraerham. It is situated on the down to 

 the right of the road leading from Martin to that village. This 

 misnamed ring, being in reality square, shows, equally with the 

 Roman Road, that it is the work of a civilized people. Planned 

 with accuracy, and executed with exactness, we can see exactly how 

 a Roman Legion entrenched itself. 



The downs in almost every part of the county are marked by 

 military works — British, or Roman, or both. Hardly a hill-top 

 can be found which has not its encampment, and nowhere is this 

 to be noticed more frequently than on the range of Downs from 

 Westbury to Salisbury : beginning with Bratton Castle, follow 

 Battlesbury, (with Clay Hill away to the right) Scratchbury, 

 Knook, Oldbury, Yarnbury, in quick succession. At the time 

 when the people of this country were fearing invasion under the 

 first Napoleon, some of these hill-tops on the downs were prepared 

 to be used as beacons, faggots and other materials being collected 

 ready to be lighted to signal from the coast the enemy's landing. 

 Melbury Hill on the borders of Wilts, but actually in Dorsetshire, 

 was one of those selected for the purpose, and the story used to be 

 told in the neighbourhood, that some person either from mischief 

 or else misled by some fire in the distance, set the beacon a light 

 and spread consternation through the country. Beacon Hill near 

 Amesbury, was probably so called from having been used, at some 

 time or other, for a similar purpose. 



In the last century some of the turnpike roads in the county of 

 Wilts ran along upon the highest ridges of the downs, and still 

 there are several places where the old milestones are remaining, 

 though the road itself has long ago sought the shelter of the lower 

 ground. On the downs above Westbury are several of these 

 deserted stones — marking out to a certain extent the old road 

 which led from that town to Salisbury. A similar, now disused, 



