CHAP. X.
Of the arch-druid’s house on Temple-downs, his barrow. Of their places of judicature, and execution. Another Druid’s house call’d old-Chapel towards Winterburn-basset. Another under the Hakpen-hill, over Kennet avenue. Another at Bekamton. Another under Runway-hill. A Kist-vaen in Monkton-fields. Another in Clatford-bottom by Marlborough. Some general reflexions. They must have been a very great and learned people, that made this work of Abury. The parish of Abury now comprehends many townships, taken in by the extent of the snake. A notion of the snake, and its sacred quality retain’d by the people, reporting no snake will live within this tract. A conjecture concerning the time of founding this temple, which carries it up to the time of Abraham, or very near it; deduc’d from the variation of the compass observ’d there. A mathematical designation of the termination of Bekamton avenue. The major part of Virgil’s fifth Æneid is a description of like anniversary games celebrated here, in old times.
THERE is still another of these long archdruids’ tumuli at Abury, which leads me to describe a kind of ancient monuments which I meet with here, and near Stonehenge and elsewhere; which I take to be houses of the Druids, or their courts of judicature, or both. The principal of them here, is a remarkable thing, upon the Hakpen-hill east of Abury, near a mile, between it and Rockley. That part of the downs thereabouts is called Temple-downs, and the thing is called old Chapel. Lord Winchelsea, Lord and Lady Hertford and myself were curious in observing it, July 6, 1723. ’Tis a large square, intrench’d, 110 druid cubits by 130, like a little Roman camp, with one entrance on the south-west side, towards Abury: for it is posited with accuracy, (as all these works are) from north-east to south-west. The situation of the place is high, and has a descent, quite round three of its sides; the verge of the descent inclosing it like a horseshoe. The entrance is on the side next Abury, on the isthmus of the peninsula (as it were,) on the shortest side of the square, the south-west. It is made of a vallum and ditch; beyond that, a row of flat stones set quite round and pretty close to one another, like a wall. Beyond that, another lesser ditch. There are stones too set on each side the entrance. On the north-west side is a large long barrow 50 cubits in length, with two great stone works upon it. One on the end next the great inclos’d place, we have been describing: another stonework towards the other end; which seems to have been a semicircular cove, or demi-ellipsis consisting of five great stones; a Stonehenge cell in miniature, but now in ruins. This probably gave the name of old Chapel to the place; the barrow likewise has been set quite round with great stones.
In the second stone-work, one stone lies flat on the ground, along the middle line of the barrow. On each side a flat stone stands upright, and two flat stones stand upright at right angles, as wings to ’em. Upon them I suppose other stones were pil’d as a kist-vaen. Here probably lies the body of the interr’d. The stones are generally very large, about ten feet long.
The whole I take to have been the palace and interment of an arch-druid, and his tribunal or seat of justice. ’Tis posited exactly enough south-east and north-west. The learned Mr. Rowland, who wrote the history of the Isle of Mona, describes just such works as this in that place, and calls them houses of the Druids.
This place stands near a great cavity call’d Balmore-pond, which seems to have some regard to this work. ’Tis a pyriform concavity, set with stones on the inside. It answers exactly to old chapel entrance; and the people have a report that there is a vault under it. One would be tempted to think it was a prison, and the pond was the place of executions, being form’d theatrically. Otherwise it might be a place of sports and spectacles. ’Tis 150 cubits broad, 180 long, form’d like an Amazonian shield.
In a valley between here and Rockley, are nine round barrows of different bulk. And upon all the highest ground thereabouts are an infinite quantity of immense stones, or sarsens, or gray weathers, some of as large dimensions as any at Abury, and lying as thick as leaves in autumn. Some upon the very surface of the ground, some half sunk in; and many deep holes whence stones have been taken, are visible.
If we descend the Hakpen-hill, westward from hence towards Winterburn-basset, upon the declivity of the Hakpen, is another Druid’s house, called too Old Chapel. ’Tis a square, double ditch’d, but small ditches, in the middle a broad oblong square bank. Before it a sort of court, nearly as big as the other. Near it, they say, they have found much old iron and pewter. It seems to have been set round with stones.
There is another of these places in a delightful circular hollow, under the [Hakpen-hill], on the west side, hanging over Kennet avenue, just 180 cubits square. It lies on a northern declivity, for coolness as one may judge. The entrance is in the middle of the lowest side. But toward the upper side is another lesser oblong square, what we should call a prætorium in a Roman camp. And to this there was a distinct entrance on the south. ’Tis plac’d exactly north and south.