Parochial Histories oj Wilts and Dorset. 255 



committee, among whom tlie name of Sir John "W. Awdry should 

 be particularly mentioned, have revised the "Heads of Parochial 

 Information," and issue them in their present form. They will 

 I' ereafter be circulated among the clergy (together with a recom- 

 1 lendatory letter from the Bishop of Salisbury), and among all who 

 iaaj be disposed to take part in the work, perhaps accompanied by 

 in account of one or more parishes drawn up as a sample of the 

 scheme they suggest. 



As a guide to the sources from which the past history of a parish 

 is to be obtained, it may be desirable to mention the titles of some 

 topographical works, relating to Wilts and Dorset, as well as some 

 others of a general character, which may be consulted with advan- 

 tage. To Sir Richard Colt Hoare and his able coadjutors (some of 

 whom are promoting the present design), the county is indebted 

 for that splendid work "Ancient Wiltshire," and for the description 

 of 15 Southern Hundreds in the volumes entitled "Modern Wilt- 

 shire." Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt,, has printed "the Wiltshire 

 Institutions," and "Aubrej^'s Collections for a history of North 

 Wilts." His large collection of Manuscripts also deserves especial 

 mention. To these must be added, Mr. Britton's topographical 

 works, particularly his "Beauties of Wiltshire," and his articles 

 "Avebury" and "Stonehenge" in the Penny Cyclopocdia ; the 

 Salisbury volume of the Archaeological Institute 1849; a few 

 volumes published by a former Wilts Topographical Society, in- 

 cluding "Aubrey's Natural History of Wilts"; and more particu- 

 larly the Magazine of the present Society, containing most valuable 

 contributions, among which it cannot be invidious to point out those 

 of Mr. Poulett Scrope and Rev. Canon Jackson. Among works, 

 the subjects of which are more limited, there are, Mr. Povdett 

 Scrope's " History of Castle Combe," Mr. Waylen's Histories of 

 Devizes and Marlborough, together with his promised "Wiltshire 

 during the Civil Wars." Most of these works may be seen in the 

 Library of the Wilts Archaeological Society at Devizes. In regard 

 to Dorset, that county has a great advantage over Wilts, in the ex- 

 cellent and complete County History by thoRev. John Hutchins, (Rec- 

 tor of Swyre, and subsequently of Melconibc Horsey, and of the Holy 



