And it went over variety of elevations and depressures as the other of Kennet avenue; but that terminated on a hill, as this in a valley. With great judgment, they thus laid out the ground, to make the whole more picture-like.
TAB. XIX.
P. 36.
Stukeley delin.
Toms Sculp.
Continuation of Kennet avenue 24. May 1724.
Bekamton-village lies very low, at the bottom of a valley subject to inundations, and the ground is springy: they can’t make cellars there: whereas Abury is very dry, and their wells deep.
There are many barrows on the south downs, between St. Anne’s-hill and Bekamton, which chiefly regard this avenue. Many as we go up to the Roman camp of Oldbury, and in Yatesbury-field. And pretty near the termination, in the valley of Bekamton under Cherill-hill, is a group or line of half a score of very different forms, which make a pretty appearance. So the valley along the present road from Bekamton to the Devizes and Bath, is full of barrows on both sides; all regarding this part of the sacred work, the tail of the snake.
I am confident, the reader by this time has conceiv’d a just notion of this wonderful work, which we have describ’d with as much brevity as possible; and at the same time he will resent its fate, that a few miserable farmers should, within the space of 20 years, destroy this the noblest monument, which is probably on the face of the globe; which has stood so many ages, and was made to stand as many more. The grandeur of the work has render’d it altogether unnecessary to add any heightning, or any flourishes. I leave it as an out-line of the most masterly hand, a picture that requires no colouring.
Concerning the forms of the religious performances here, I can say but little, more than that I see nothing, but what appears to be in the ancient patriarchal mode, before cover’d temples were introduc’d in the world; the æra of which time, I am fully convinc’d, was that of the Mosaick tabernacle. We may well assert this to be ancienter than that time; as the largest, so probably one of the most ancient in the Britannic isles. The Druids were tempted to make this work here, by the appearance of the stones on the downs, on the other side of Hakpen-hill, call’d the gray weathers. Finding the ground all overspread with these enormous masses, they had no difficulty in resolving, and they made none in putting their resolution in execution; in conveying 650 of the choicest of them, to make this notable temple. Thus we cast up the number.