The former avenue goes out of Abury town at the south-east point; this full west, at the interval of 25 stones, or a quadrant of the great circle from Kennet avenue, and proceeds by the south side of the churchyard. Two stones lie by the parsonage-gate on the right hand. Those opposite to them on the left hand, in a pasture, were taken away 1702, as mark’d in the ground-plot of Abury. Reuben Horsal remembers three standing in the pasture. One now lies in the floor of the house in the churchyard. A little farther, one lies at the corner of the next house, on the right hand, by the lane turning off to the right, to the bridge. Another was broke in pieces to build that house with, anno 1714. Two more lie on the left hand, opposite. It then passes the beck, south of the bridge. Most of the stones hereabouts have been made use of about the bridge, and the causeway leading to it. A little spring arises at Horslip north-west, and so runs by here to Silbury-hill, where the real head of the Kennet is. But sometimes by a sudden descent of rain coming from Monkton and Broad-Hinton, this is very deep. The picture here humours the reality so far, as this may be call’d the vent of the snake.
Now the avenue passes along a lane to the left hand of the Caln road, by a stone house call’d Goldsmiths-farm, and so thro’ farmer Griffin’s yard, thro’ one barn that stands across the avenue, then by another which stands on its direction. Two stones and their opposites still lie in the foundation; immediately after this, it enters the open plow’d fields; the Caln road running all this while north of it. If we look back and observe the bearings of Abury steeple, and other objects, a discerning eye finds, that it makes a great sweep or curve northwards. The avenue entring the open corn-fields, runs for some time by the hedge, on the right hand. When it has cross’d the way leading from South-street, we discern here and there the remains of it, in its road to Longstone cove. Farmer Griffin broke near 20 of the stones of this part of the avenue.
TAB. XVIII.
P. 34.
Stukeley delin.
E. Kirkall sculp.
The Entrance of Kennet avenue into Abury 14. May 1724.
This Longstone cove, vulgarly call’d long stones, is properly a cove, as the old Britons call’d ’em, compos’d of three stones, like that most magnificent one we described, in the center of the northern temple at Abury; behind the inn. They are set upon the ark of a circle, regarding each other with an obtuse angle. This is set on the north side of the avenue; one of the stones of that side makes the back of the cove. This is the only particularity in which this avenue differs from the former. I take it to be chiefly a judicious affectation of variety, and serv’d as a sacellum or proseucha to the neighbourhood on ordinary days of devotion, viz. the sabbath-days. For if the Druids came hither in Abraham’s time, and were disciples of his, as it appears to me; we cannot doubt of their observance of the sabbath. It stands on the midway of the length of the avenue, being the fiftieth stone. This opens to the south-east, as that of the northern temple to the north-east. ’Tis placed upon an eminence, the highest ground which the avenue passes over: these are call’d Longstone-fields from it. You have a good prospect hence, seeing Abury toward which the ground descends to the brook: Overton-hill, Silbury, Bekamton; and a fine country all around. Many stones by the way are just buried under the surface of the earth. Many lie in the balks and meres, and many fragments are remov’d, to make boundaries for the fields; but more whole ones have been burnt to build withal, within every body’s memory. One stone still remains standing, near Longstone cove.
Longstone cove, because standing in the open fields, between the Caln road and that to the Bath, is more talk’d of by the people of this country, than the larger, and more numerous in Abury town. Dr. Musgrave mentions it in his Belgium Britannicum, page 44. and in his map thereof.
Mr. Aubury in his manuscript observations publish’d with Mr. Camden’s Britannia, speaks of them by the name of the Devil’s coits. Three huge stones then standing. It was really a grand and noble work. The stone left standing is 16 feet high, as many broad, 3½ thick. The back stone is fallen flat on the ground, of like dimension.