54 



On British Stone and Earthworks 



capstone split across by some workmen, who — ignorant that it 

 differed in any respect from the many other sarsen stones lying 

 all round — had selected that unfortunate stone for some building* 

 purpose. To arrest the work of destruction was not difficult, for on 

 communication with the then owner, Mr. Baskerville, orders were 

 immediately given that the stones should be spared ; and now that 

 the property has passed into the hands of the noble President of 

 this Meeting, we need not fear any farther injury to it. The in- 

 difference of the stone-masons to the covering stone of the kistvaen 

 is not so surprizing when even so good an antiquary as Aubrey 

 relates how he and Dr. Charleton pointed it out to His Majesty 

 Charles II. and the Duke of York as one of the stones intended for 

 Stonehenge, and " resting on three low stones, as a suffulciment as 

 in order to be carried away " ! 



The remaining kistvaen, in Clatford Bottom, will not detain us 

 long. It is not only perfect in condition, but of very grand di- 

 mensions ; moreover it is well known to everybody in this neigh- 

 bourhood, and will be visited by the Society on Thursday. I may 

 mention that I was told some years since, by an old man hoeing 

 turnips near, that if anybody mounted to the top of it, he might 

 shake it in one particular part. I do not know whether this is the 

 case or no, though it is not unusual where the capstone is upheld by 

 only three supporters. But another labourer whom I interrogated 

 once informed me that nobody could ever pull off the capstone ; 

 that many had tried to do so without success ; and that on one oc- 

 casion twelve white oxen were provided with new harness and set to 

 pull it off, but the harness all fell to pieces immediately ! As my 

 informant evidently thought very seriously of this, and considered 

 it the work of enchantment, I found it was not a matter for trifling 

 to his honest but superstitious mind : and he remained perfectly 

 unconvinced by all the arguments with which I tried to shake his 

 credulity. 



I should mention, in connection with this part of my subject, the 

 stone chambers contained in the long barrows, which are not to be 

 confounded with the other barrows, but are the work of a distinct 

 and older race, contain interments peculiar to themselves, and are 



