By the Rev. Edward Peacock. 267 



road was carried over even a more exposed ridge between Shaftes- 

 bury and Salisbury, commencing on White Sheet Hill. Though, 

 this road extended for some sixteen miles, it passed but one solitary 

 house, still remaining, and known as Fovant Hut, a miserable place 

 of refreshment, frequented occasionally by drovers, and the few 

 who cross at that point from one valley to the other. 



Whilst speaking of the downs above the town of Westbury, and 

 the old milestones to be seen there, mention must be made of 

 another stone standing on the same downs between Imber and 

 Tinhead : it marks the spot where, some 25 or 30 j'ears since, a 

 robber fell dead. The late Mr. Deane of Imber, on his way home 

 from Devizes Market, was attacked by three men who robbed him : 

 this took place at Gore cross in the parish of West Lavington. 

 The men were afterwards pursued by Mr. Deane and some friends 

 whom he called to his assistance, and the robber, whose death is 

 recorded on the stone, fell dead from over exertion in his attempt 

 to escape. In many parts of the downs the tracks made in former 

 times by the pack horses may still be observed, especially where 

 the path led up a steep ascent ; as in such spots the track is often 

 very deeply cut : the exertions of the horses ascending and decending 

 would loosen the chalk and flints, and every shower of rain would 

 wash them down, and thus the track would gradually cut deeply 

 into the ground. 



The subject of the matter of this paper has been chiefly drawn 

 from the southern part of the County of Wilts, as being best known 

 to the writer, but the downs in the Northern part are doubtless 

 just as rich in matters of interest : Avebury, Silbury Hill and the 

 Wansdyke alone afibrd subjects which would fill a volume. Nor 

 yet is the south exhausted whilst Stonehenge, the Cursus, Vespasians 

 Camp, and other earthworks remain untouched upon. The Botany, 

 — the peculiar ornithology of the downs — the latter especially, 

 have claims upon our notice ; but it is hoped that enough has 

 been already said to point out subjects of interest even on the 

 barest portions of the down, so that he who crosses them, if he 

 will but use his eyes, need not complain that his journey has 

 been tedious. 



