12 2 History of the Sarsens. 



the President again enforced his opinion that in its excursions the 

 Society attempted too much, and earnestly advocated a more confined 

 area, and greater time for examination of each object of interest 

 within that limited district. 



Purton Church, with its tower and steeple, were next visited, and 

 here a considerable time was spent, for the venerable building is of 

 very great interest, but for all particulars we refer to Mr. Ponting's 

 notes. Then a fine old manor house hard by demanded notice, and 

 the archaeologists were courteously permitted to explore it from 

 garret to cellar. A short halt at the Church of Lydiard Millicent 

 was all that time allowed, and the visit to Lydiard Tregoz was, 

 perforce, abandoned. And then Swindon was reached, and so ter- 

 minated a most successful Meeting. 



fBistoig of tjw ^limits- 



By Professor T. Rtjpeht Jones, F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. 



Contents. 

 I. — -Introduction — The Sarsens. 

 II.— Size of the Sarsens. 



III. — Constitution of the Sarsens. 



IV. — Origin of the name " Sarsen." 

 V.— Geological History of the Sarsens. 



VI. — Prof. Prestwich and others on the Sarsens. 

 VII. — Fossil Roots in the Sarsens. 



VIII.— Appendix. I. — Notes from the Geological Survey 

 Memoirs, &c. II. — Reference to the Guide to the 

 Antiquities of North Wilts. III. — Bibliographical 

 List. 



I. — Introduction— The Sarsens. 



iN" the south and south-eastern districts of England these 

 large stones are spread about the country, especially in 

 Kent, Surrey, Berks, and Wilts. They lie thickly in some places, 

 especially a little to the west of Marlborough (near the village of 

 Kennet they look like a great flock of sheep, hence their name 



