Notes on Ancient British Monuments ¹

Abstract

IV.—Avenues.

I HAVE measured several avenues since "Stone--ooo henge "was published, and I have studied others of which the orientation could be determined -by the Ordnance maps. Many of them have been found to have had the same astronomical use which had been suggested in those measured on Dartmoor. The longest avenue I have seen is at Avebury-the Kennet Avenue-which, in Stukeley's time, was more than a mile long. Associated with it is the Beckhampton Avenue. These avenues must have been very imposing parts of the complete temple when it was in full use. Avebury is such a mass of ruins that it is difficult to reconstruct it in the mind's eye in its entirety, but some parts of it, considered by themselves, present no difficulty. Mr. R. H. Caird, of Devizes, has twice enabled my wife and myself to visit the region by driving us from Devizes in his motorcar, and these visits gave us time enough to see that the Beckhamp-ton Avenue and the remains of the Cove were both oriented to the May sunrise, were, in fact, probably closely associated in the May ceremonials, the avenue abutting on the north circle, in the centre of which the remaining gigantic stones of the cove still stand.