Hinc ævi veteris custos, famosa vetustas
Miratrixque sui signavit nomine terras,
Sed majora dedit cognomina collibus istis.
Again, the tail of the snake is conducted to the descending valley below Bekamton.
TAB. X.
P. 18.
Stukeley d.
Prospect of the Roman Road & Wansdike Just above Calston May 20. 1724.
This demonstrates that Wansdike was made before the Roman Road.
Thus our antiquity divides itself into three great parts, which will be our rule in describing the work. The circle at Abury, the fore-part of the snake, leading towards Kennet, which I call Kennet-avenue; the hinder part of the snake, leading towards Bekamton, which I call Bekamton-avenue; for they may well be look’d on as avenues to the great temple at Abury, which part must be more eminently call’d the temple.
This town is wrote Aubury, Avebury, Avesbury, sometimes Albury: ’tis hard to say which is the true. The former three names may have their origin from the brook running by, au, aux, water, awy in welsh; the old german aha. The latter points to Aldbury, or old work, regarding its situation within the vallum. Nor is it worth while to dwell on its etymology; the saxon name is a thing of so low a date, in comparison of what we are writing upon, that we expect no great use from it; unless Albury has regard to al, hal, healle, gothicè