372 



The Great Wiltshire Storm. 



and the roof injured : the School too lost its bell turret and was 

 otherwise maltreated : the old Rectory House, which had stood for 

 many generations was altogether dismantled and became a ruin, 

 and the cottagers who inhabited it were driven out to seek shelter 

 elsewhere ; in addition to the unroofing many ricks, sheds, and 

 other buildings belonging to Mr. Reed and others. But there is 

 no lingering here for the hurricane, for again the cry "Excelsior" 

 seems to have rung out upon the blast, as the spirit of the storm 

 once more began to mount, and this time to the highest down, 

 even to the summit of old Hackpen. Here as it hurried by the 

 cottages and barns on the bleak hill-top, that rejoice in the won- 

 derful name of "Glory Ann," (as may be seen in the Ordnance and 

 other maps,) it seems to have had a friendly feeling towards 

 buildings so exposed and solitary, and merely giving a passing 

 salute by scattering a little thatch here and there, down it rushed 

 to Temple Farm, in the occupation of Mr. Kemm, where it over- 

 turned several trees, and tore off the thatch of barns and other 

 buildings. Thence up again to the heights above Rockley, and up- 

 rooting a few trees there with its accustomed eccentric partiality, 

 away over the open country, and down into the valleys, and up 

 again over the intervening downs to Ogbourne St. George, where 

 it left its last parting token, by blowing down a small barn and 

 two trees. From this point we lose all trace of it, and we may 

 conclude it did no farther damage, but had ended its career ; for 

 though many reports have been circulated of its effects farther on 

 and in several localities, they all appear on investigation to have 

 been the result of other gales, which were very prevalent all over 

 the kingdom at that time, but to have had no connection with 

 this, neither the hour nor even the day of such catastrophes 

 agreeing with those of our " great storm " of December 30th. 



Here then we have before us the whole route of the hurricane, 

 and its principal points of attack within that route (for to enume- 

 rate every item of damage would have been impossible.) And now 

 we are in a position to comment upon the above facts, and to draw 

 out and examine more leisurely several very remarkable peculiari- 

 ties which will not have failed to strike the careful observer. 



