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Excavation of a Homan GHell neae Silburp Hill 
July and October, 1896. 
By J. W. Brooxg and B. Howarp Cunnineton, F.S.A. Scot. 
waq@OR many years past the tenant of the farm near Silbury 
S Q Hill on the south side of the Bath Road, noticed that at a 
particular spot close to the hedge which borders the road 
the soil subsided every year in spite of the fact that the hole was 
continually filled up—in fact, many cartloads of refuse had from 
time to time been put in to make this part of the field level. 
This continual subsidence led the present tenant—Mr. Arnold, 
of West Kennet—to believe there must be a disused well at the 
spot, and he kindly gave us permission to excavate it. 
The well is situated about 150 yards south-south-west of Silbury 
Hill, and between the Roman Road and the present highway. It 
is also about 50 yards east of the well excavated by Mr. William 
Cunnington and the late Mr. Henry Cunnington in 1882-3. 
The ground slopes from the west towards the River Kennet, and 
the well is about 40 yards west of the river. 
1 Explanation of accompanying map, traced from the Ordnance 6in. Survey. 
A Well opened by Messrs. B. H. Cunnington and J. W. Brooke, 1896. 
B Well opened by Mr. W. Cunnington and the late Mr. H. Cunnington in 
1882-3. The position of this well is taken from “ Smith's Antiquities 
of North Wilts,” and is not clearly located. 
CG Well that has been in use within living memory, and may be modern. 
DD Position of wells unexplored. 
E A kitchen-midden was opened here by the Rev. A. C. Smith, a description of 
which appears in his Antiquities of North Wilts. 
F A kitchen-midden was opened here by Mr. J. W. Brooke, an account of 
which appears in the Marlborough College Natural History Report, 
1888. 
