12 



course of this road betwixt the two stations of Verlutio and 

 Cunetio, at the point where it passes near to the famous 

 stone circle at Abury, with its accompanying avenues at 

 Beckhampton and Kennet. 



The course of the Roman road is correctly marked in the 

 ordnance map from Bathford to Marlborough, and I beUeve 

 throughout its whole line to Silchester. Throughout part of 

 this course it appears to coalesce with the Wansdike, and to 

 have adopted that boundary line for its direction. The junc- 

 tion of the Roman road with the Wansdike is clearly seen at 

 Morgan's Hill, and has been dehneated by Stukeley in his 

 " Itin. Cur." The Club three or four years ago visited 

 the spot, under the guidance of Dr. Thumam. 



In its course from Verlucio, or Sandy Lane, to Marlborough 

 it passes over West Down, on the brow of which the direction can 

 be clearly traced by anyone travelling on the road from Marl- 

 borough to Calne, who knows where to look for it. The point 

 at which it cuts the brow of the hill on the horizon is very 

 distinct. In coming from Marlborough along the turnpike road 

 to Calne you pass by Silbury Hill, about six miles west of 

 Marlborough, and here the Roman road unites with the turn- 

 pike road. A controversy lately arose as to the exact line of 

 the Roman road at this point, whether it passed underneath 

 Silbury Hill, or kept to the south of it, uniting with the turn- 

 pike a little to the east of the hill. Letters were published in 

 the " Athenseum " on the subject, and it was asserted that if 

 Silbury Hill could be shown to stand upon the Roman road, 

 it must of necessity be more recent, but if the Roman road 

 was diverted from the straight course which it takes over West 

 Down, and deflected at this point, it proved that the hill was 

 older than the Roman road. 



A clear and concise statement of the controversy on this 

 point is given in the last number of the " Wilts Archaeologi- 

 calJournal," Nov., 1867, vol. xi., p. 113, by the Rev. Preben- 



