Observed maximum reading of circle 256°33′0″
True azimuth of star 181 57 0
Meridian (S.) reading of circle 74 36 0
Circle reading on Salisbury Spire 65 28 0
Azimuth of Salisbury SpireS.9 8 0 E.

The mean of the two determinations gives for the azimuth of Salisbury Spire S. 9° 8′ 2″ E. This result agrees well with the value of the azimuth communicated by the Ordnance Survey Office, namely, 9° 4′ 8″ from the centre of the circle, which being corrected by +4′ 12″ for the position of station a, is increased to 9° 8′ 20″.

Hence, from the point of observation a, 9° 8′ 20″ has been adopted as the azimuth of Salisbury Spire.

We thus get the following absolute values of the principal azimuths from the point a:

Highest point of Friar’s Heel 239°47′25″
-9 8 20
230 39 5
orN.50 39 5 E.
Middle of opening in N.E. trilithon 238 51 10
-9 8 20
229 42 50
orN.49 42 50 E.

The difference of 81⁄2′ between this and the assumed axis 49° 34′ 18″ is so slight that considering the indirect method which has necessarily been employed in determining the axis of the temple from the position of the leaning stone, and the want of verticality, parallelism and straightness of the inner surfaces of the opening in the N.E. trilithon, we are justified in adopting the azimuth of the avenue as that of the temple.

Next, with regard to the determination of the azimuth of the avenue as indicated by the line of pegs to which reference is made on [p. 65]. The small angle between the nearest pegs A and B (which are supposed to be parallel to the axis of the avenue), observed from station a, was measured, and the corresponding calculated correction was applied to the ascertained true bearing of the more distant peg B.

Thus

True bearing of peg B = 238°35′0″
Calculated correction to peg A = 0 12 8
True bearing of line AB 238 47 8
Bearing of Salisbury Spire 189 8 20
True bearing of a line parallel to the axis of near part of avenueN.49 38 48 E.

The mean of the three independent determinations by another observer was 49° 39′ 6″.