184 Recent Wiltshire Books, Pamphlets, Articles, &c. 



Wiltshire. By Frank R. Heath, with thirty-two 

 illustrations, two maps and two plans. London r 

 Methuen & Co., Ltd., 36, ISssex Street, Strand 



[1911], 



6in. X 3fin., pp. xi. + 356. Cloth, 2s. Qd. ; leather, 3s. 6c?., net. 



This latest addition to Messrs. Methuen's " Little Guides " series is a 

 thoroughly handy and useful book. It is well illustrated, and clearly 

 printed on thin paper so that its 360 pages go very conveniently into 

 the pocket. Indeed it is probably the best account of Wiltshire in 

 small compass which has yet appeared. The introduction, which 

 occupies 48 pages, deals with the Physical Features, Geology, Climate, 

 Flora and Fauna, Population, Communications, Industries, History, 

 Antiquities, Architecture, Celebrated Men, in turn. Each of these 

 is necessarily only shortly touched on, but on the whole a very fair 

 estimate of the county is given, and there are few mistakes. Perhaps 

 the section on the Flora is the weakest. It must be news to many 

 people that the Beech and Oak Ferns are to be found within the 

 borders of the county ! And it is a pity that one of Mr. Bradley's 

 very few slips should be perpetuated here where we are told that the 

 turf near Avebury is " blue with Sheeps bit." Is it worth while to 

 mention that the common Sowthistle, Purple Dead Nettle, Silverweed, 

 Eyebright, Bartsia, and Draha verna are found in certain localities 1 

 In what localities are they not found 1 But these are small matters. 

 Most of the sections are well done, the geology especially so, and are 

 moreover quite remarkably up-to-date, as indeed is the whole book, 

 e.g., Mr. and Mrs, Cunnington's recent excavations at Knap Hill are 

 recorded (though the sword found there was of Saxon and not of 

 Roman date as here stated), and the " Bustard " is an inn again. 

 One of the very few instances in which the author's information is 

 behindhand is the mention of Chapel Plaster as " desecrated," whereas 

 it has been happily rescued from its desecration now for many years. 

 Again, the present owner of Bradenstoke is not the builder of the 

 Church- The body of the book is arranged as an alphabetical gazetteer 

 in which apparently every parish in the county is mentioned, though 

 in a large number of cases the smaller places " call for no special 

 comment." As a rule two or three lines are given to the Church 

 when it is an ancient building, and the more important Churches are 

 adequately described. Of course mention of details is not to be looked 

 for in a work of this size, except in the more important examples, but 

 the information which is given seems generally dependable. There 

 are a considerable number of misprints, one curious example being 

 that statement that the Church of Broad ToAvn is " Wooden !" which 

 evidently should have been "modern ! " whilst the Saxon cross shaft 

 stones at Littleton Drew stand on either side of the Church ivalk and 

 not of the wall as printed. There is a complete absence of guide book 

 twaddle, and the information given is concise and to the point. Last, 

 but by no means least, there is an excellent index in which you can 

 find almost everything you want. Altogether this little book supplies- 



