Transcribed from the 1908? edition, .
A SENTIMENTAL & PRACTICAL
GUIDE TO AMESBURY AND
STONEHENGE, COMPILED
BY LADY ANTROBUS
DEDICATED TOMY MOTHER
GEORGINA ALICIA SARTORIS
TENTH THOUSAND
ESTATE OFFICE: AMESBURY, WILTS
p.2PREFACE.
In compiling this little GuideBook, I have somewhat departed from the ordinary lines, but Iventure to hope that the traveller to Amesbury and Stonehengewill not like it the worse on that account. I am muchindebted to the kindness of Mrs. Gordon and of Messrs. Murray, Barclay,Story Maskelyne, and Hewitt, for allowing me to quote from theirworks, also to the Editor of the Ladies’ Realm, forpermission to use an article by me which appeared in the Februarynumber of that magazine, and, above all, to Miss Clarisse Miles, for the charming photographswhich illustrate my book.
FlorenceCaroline Mathilde Antrobus.
Amesbury Abbey,
Salisbury, 1900.
p. 3GUIDE TOAMESBURY AND STONEHENGE.
Leaving Salisbury by what is called the “UpperRoad” to Amesbury, one travels across a tract of bleak andrather uninteresting downs. About two miles from Salisbury(on the left) Old Sarum stands up conspicuously, and is the onlyobject of interest till one arrives at Amesbury, eight milesdistant from Salisbury. Amesbury calls itself a town, andboasts of several shops and the telegraph. A railwaystation is in process of construction. In Aubrey’stimes Amesbury was celebrated for its tobacco pipes, marked witha gauntlet, the name of the maker. Of these, severalspecimens are to be found in the museum at Salisbury.
Returning to Salisbury from Amesbury, and taking “theBourne” route, there is a beautiful drive winding along thebanks of the Avon. I give a short account of the mostinteresting places the traveller meets with on his homewardjourney.
OLD SARUM.
Lies two miles from Salisbury, andstands up, making a bold outline in the surrounding opencountry. It is a hill, bare now, save for some trees,encircled with entrenchments, with a central mound peering abovethem. But centuries ago this spot was crowded withbuildings—religious, military, and domestic, and was one ofthe most important in our island. Some say that the ancientBritish name was Caer Sarflag, p. 4the “City of the ServiceTree.” Its Roman name was Sorbiodunun, theSaxon Sarobyrig. The face of the hill is smooth andvery steep. The summit is fenced by a mighty earthenrampart and ditch, protected by a lower raised bank outside ofit, the height from the top of the one to the bottom of the otherbeing 106 feet. The surface of the hill is an elongatedcircular area of 27½ acres. In the centre of thearea is a second circular earthwork and ditch 100 feet high, andwithin these stood the citadel. On the top of the earthworksurroundi