236 



Extracts from a Note- Booh by Sir R. C. Ho are. 



a chaise, where I met my * Magnus J polio,' Mr. Cunnington. Mounted my 

 horse and rode with him thus— see large map of Wilts. To the right between 

 East and West Everley, a group of three barrows, viz., a finely formed Druid 

 barrow between two bowl-shaped. A little beyond them on the declivity of a 

 hill is a square earthen work, very perfect on three sides, and corners apparently 

 rounded. In a northerly direction is a very interesting group of eight tumuli — 

 very rude and possessing some novelty in their forms— particularly that of a 

 long barrow within a circle. To the west of these, and a little on the left of the 

 track leading to Pewsey, are two circles connected with each other by a ditch or 

 hollow way. (The blackness of the soil, and the irregularity of the ground give 

 me good reason to suppose that on digging I shall find the site of a British 

 settlement here.) Turned off to the right, and skirted the ridge of hills, enjoying 

 a most enchanting view of the richly wooded and cultivated vale beneath, 

 terminated by the abrupt and bold Martinshall. On the declivity of the down 

 see an immense irregular long barrow, called vulgarly the Giant's Grave. 

 Beyond this tumulus and between it and Milton Farm-house, we evidently found 

 the site of British habitations, and picked up a great deal of pottery. From 

 hence crossed over to Easton Hill, where we discovered irregular earthen works, 

 and excavations denoting ancient habitation. Returned to Milton Hill — a group 

 of five tumuli very near each other, and another on the declivity of the hill. In 

 our way back to Everley saw several others detached, but no earthen works or 

 excavations exciting curiosity. 



" A most interesting ride, full of novelty and information. 

 " Saturday, October 10, 1807. Mild and fine day. Went in a chaise to 

 Marden, a village on the right of the great road leading to Devizes. Here 

 there is a very singular earthen work that has been unnoticed by antiquaries. 

 From the circumstance of the ditch being on the inside, and the vallum without, 

 we may safely pronounce it to have been a religious, not a military work. Its 

 form, however, is not circular like that of Abury, but very irregular. Though 

 no traces whatever of its complete continuation remain at present, I have no 

 doubt of such a continuance, and that in forming the water meadows, where only 

 the vallum is interrupted, these vestiges were removed. This work, though 

 certainly laborious and expensive, was much facilitated by the light sandy nature 

 of the soil, and the value of water meadows to a Wiltshire farmer is such as to 

 render my supposition of that part of the vallum which stood in their way having 

 been removed highly probable. 



" Curiosity is not alone confined to this outward and stupendous vallum. The 

 interior of the arc contains two very interesting fragments of antiquity. 



" A large tumulus, the third, I think, in size after Silbury and the Castle 

 hill at Marlborough. This tumulus is named in the map Hatfield barrow. 

 The etymology of which, as given me by a native farmer, was derived from the 

 unproductive quality of the soil — which occasioned its being oalled Hate-field.) 

 This tumulus is not placed in the centre of the area, but towards the northern 

 angle of it, or rather north-western. As our operations on it are not yet termi- 

 nated I can give no account either of its contents or destination. From the 

 moisture of the substratum of sand I have much doubt if we shall be able 

 effectually to explore it. 



" Our workmen had a most providential escape, by being taken off to another 



