EARLY MAN 



them, moreover, are more than 2 or 3 inches above the surface, 

 whilst some are buried as deep under it.' He notes their occurrence 

 also in a bye-road through fields between the villages of Shrivenham 

 and Compton. Although Barrington failed to notice it, there might be 

 some regular arrangement of these stones, corresponding to the align- 

 ments at Carnac and other places ; but, as Mr. Lewis was not very 

 confident of tracing such an arrangement, perhaps the question might 

 for the present be left open. 1 



Berkshire contains an extremely interesting specimen of a 

 chambered long-barrow which, under the name of Wayland Smith's 

 Cave, or Wayland's Smithy, has been popularized in the pages of 

 Sir Walter Scott's Kenilwortb. The remains, still known locally by 

 these names, are situated in a wild and lonely place away from any 

 dwelling and within a few yards of the remarkable ancient road known as 

 the Ridgeway, a broad, grassy road which leads up over the hill to Uffing- 

 ton Castle, and forms indeed an important feature in the primitive 

 road-system of Berkshire. Wayland's Cave is situated under a group 

 of lofty beeches which throw a gloomy and romantic shade over a spot 

 of great archaeological interest. The continual breeze passing through 

 the trees produces a low mournful murmur which greatly adds to the 

 impressiveness and solemnity of the place. Upon entering the group 

 of shady trees, one descends into a slight trench or fosse. The actual 

 stones of which the ' cave ' is composed are in a somewhat confused 

 condition, but it is still possible to make out an arrangement which will 

 be best understood from the accompanying illustration. 



Mr. Wise, in a pamphlet published in 1738,' gives the following 

 note about Wayland Smith's Cave, which is interesting as showing the 

 views of the country people in the first half of the eighteenth century 

 as to the meaning of the remains : ' Whether this remarkable piece of 

 antiquity ever bore the name of the person here buried, is not now to be 

 learned ; the true meaning of it being long since lost in ignorance and 

 fable. All the account which the country people are able to give of it 

 is. At this place lived formerly an invisible Smith ; and if a traveller's 

 Horse had lost a Shoe upon the road he had no 

 more to do than to bring the Horse to this place, 

 with a piece of money, and leaving both there for 

 some little time, he might come again and find the 

 money gone, but the Horse new shod. The stones 

 standing upon the Rudee-way, as it is called (which WAYLAND'S SMITHY : GROUND 



, , J r . . . ^ PLAN OF PROBABLE ORIGINAL 



was the situation they chose tor burial monu- ARRAN GEMENT. 

 ments), I suppose, gave occasion to the whole 



being called Wayland Smith, which is the name it was always known 

 by to the country people. . . . Leaving therefore the story of the in- 



1 Fergusson conjectures that they may be the memorial of the battle of Ashdown fought between 

 the Saxons and the Danes in 871. Barrington suggests an earthquake. It is not made dear that any one 

 of these stones is standing upright. 



2 ' A letter to Dr. Mead concerning some antiquities in Berkshire.' 



79 



