Old England: A Pictorial Museum (page 6/52)

27.—Abury. Extended Plan.

A map covering a larger area than that of Fig. 26. [more...] [$]

28.—Abury. Bird’s eye view, from the South.

“The bird’s-eye view (Fig. 28), exhibits the restoration of Abury and its neighbourhood somewhat more clearly. 1 is the circumvallated bank, 2 and 3 the inner temples, 4 the river Kennet, 5 and 6 the avenues, 7 [...] [more...] [$]

29.—Arch-Druid in his full Judicial Costume.

A fanciful drawing of an Arch-Druid (archdruid) in his full costume, judicial presumably meaning that he is ready to judge over people. An old and stern-looking man with a long flowing beard wears a robe fastened about his chest with a buclked belt. One bare foot protudes from beneath his robe, showing him to be barefoot. His righ thand is raised, although whether in benediction or to request a cup of mead is unclear. He has [...] [more...] [$]

30.—Ornaments and Patterns of the Ancient Britons

See also Fig. 14 for other “Druidical Ornaments”. [$]

31.—British Weapons of Bronze, in their earliest and improved state.

Various weapons (if such they be) dug up from burial mounds in the vicinity of Stonehenge, probably of bronze. See also Fig. 16. [$]

32.—Silbury Hill, in Wiltshire

An engraving of Silbury Hill, near Avebury; a man leads a team of horses pulling a hay wain, on top of which sits a boy. A man and woman walk alongside. In the background lies the great hill, and in the foreground a tree.

“Silbury Hill (Fig. 32) is the largest artificial mound in Europe. It is not so large as the mound of Alyattes in Asia Minor, which Herodotus has described and a modern traveller has ridden round. It is of greater dimensions than the second pyramid of Egypt. Stukeley is too ardent in the contemplation of this wonder of his own land when he says, “I have no scruple to affirm it is the most magnificent mausoleum in the world, without excepting the Egyptian pyramids.” But an artificial hill which covers five acres and thirty-four perches; which at the circumference of the base measures two thousand and twenty-seven feet; whose diameter at top is one hundred and twenty feet, its sloping height three hundred and sixteen feet, and its perpendicular height one hundred and seven feet, is indeed a stupendous monument of human labour, of which the world can show very few such examples. There can be no doubt whatever that the hill is entirely artificial. The great earth works of a modern railway are the results of labour, assisted by science and stimulated by capital, employing itself for profit: but Silbury Hill in all likelihood was a gigantic effort of what has been called hero-worship, a labour for no direct or immediate utility, but to preserve the memory of some ruler, or lawgiver, or warrior, or priest. Multitudes lent their aid in the formation; and shouted or wept around it, when it had settled down into solidity under the dews and winds, and its slopes were covered with ever-springing grass. If it were a component part of the temple at Abury, it is still to be regarded, even more than the gathering together of the stone circles and avenues of that temple, as the work of great masses of the people labouring for some elevating and heart-stirring purpose. Their worship might be blind, cruel, guided by crafty men who governed them by terror or by delusion. But these enduring monuments show the existence of some great and powerful impulses which led the people to achieve mighty things. There was a higher principle at work amongst them, however [more...] [$]

33.—Carnbré Castle

There are two places called Carn Brae in Cornwall; one is the site of a medieval chapel and the other a castle. I think that this is the castle, near Redruth. [more...] [$]

34.—Stones at Stanton Drew

Stanton Drew stone circles lie on private land today, so you need permission to visit them [but see comments below]. The Great Circle is one of the largest megalithic stone circles in England. The date from the [...] [more...] [$]