By J. W. Brooke and B. Howard Cunnington, F.S.A. Scot. 169 



doubtless having originally formed part of the steining of the well. 

 Local inhabitants told us that the water in the neighbouring 

 springs would by the end of September be several feet lower than 

 at present, so we decided to cover over the mouth of the well with 

 planks and leave it until then. During the day several visitors 

 inspected the work and " finds," amongst whom were the Rev. C. 

 W. Hony, of Bishops Cannings, and Mr. Napier, agent for the 

 estate. After leaving off work for the day we noticed what appears 

 to be another well, about 200 yards eastward of the one upon which 

 we were engaged. This, including the well by the roadside at the 

 foot of Silbury Hill, and another one pointed out by Mr. Kemm, of 

 Avebury, on the eastern side of Silbury Hill, makes five within a 

 radius of about 150 yards. 



Owing to the abnormally dry summer the springs in the neigh- 

 bourhood were, by the end of September, lower than they had been 

 known to be during the last fifty years, and consequently, on in- 

 specting the well on October 5th, we found that the water had 

 completely subsided. "We erected a tripod 17ft. high over the 

 mouth, and by means of pulley-blocks and ropes attached were able 

 to bring up eleven large boulders, which, like the others already 

 taken out, formed no doubt part of the steining. In spite of most 

 inclement weather — heavy rain and hail storms — several visitors 

 came to see how things were going on. During the day a depth 

 of a little over 20ft. was reached, but still no water was found. 



The next day, in the thick of a south-westerly gale, we resumed 

 work, and raised three more large boulders weighing three or four 

 hundredweight each, and after excavating another 2ft. of loose 

 rubble we were able, by means of an iron rod to feel what we 

 believed to be the bottom. 



Three immense sarsen stones, weighing upwards of half-a-ton 

 each completely blocked our way, the appliances at hand not being 

 sufficiently strong to raise them to the surface. A piece of Bath 

 stone — apparently part of a pillar — measuring 9in. in diameter aud 

 about 12in. high, and a few pieces of pottery, were all the " finds " 

 of this day. 



Having obtained efficient pulley appliances we resumed work on 



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