xxx.v KINGSGATE CASTLE 187 



were not sufficiently insistent on the rights of 

 access of the pubUc to the great temple. 



He made some inquiries regarding the prob- 

 able date, as indicated by the orientation, of 

 Stonehenge and of Avebury respectively from 

 Mr. Norman Lockyer, and received the following 

 two letters in reply : 



Solar Physics Observatory, 



South Kensington, London, S.W., 



February 22nd, 1901. 



Dear Loed Avebury — I am getting together the 

 orientation information regarding Stonehenge and am 

 arranging to send down to get some fresh measures. 

 About 2000 B.C. seems the most probable date so far 

 as we have gone. I have sent the calculations to 

 Penrose. 



Avebury seems much more difficult to tackle. The 

 circle seems to have been to the modern village what 

 Memphis was to Cairo. — Very sincerely yours, 



Norman Lockyer. 



Solar Physics Observatory, 



South Kensington, London, S.W., 



February 25th, 1901. 



Dear Lord Avebury — I have been working at 

 Avebury and trying to reproduce the 3 circles from 

 those shewn on the ordnance map. 



My first trial orientation gives me the sun's declina- 

 tion (14° 55' N.) on May Day. This is remarkable. Do 

 you know if there are any traditions of Bellam fires and 

 May Day celebrations in the region ? — Sincerely yours, 



Norman Lockyer. 



At the end of March he went to Settle with 

 Mr. Marr, and made some excursions in that dis- 

 trict for the purposes of his Scenery of England, 

 and in the early part of June he was at Rotting- 

 dean to see his son Harold, and took the oppor- 

 tunity to trace the present and speculate on the 

 past course of the Ouse. It was Harold's last 



