Passing the village of Charlton, and the seat of Sir John Methuen Poore (age 66), Bart., continued along the turnpike road until I came nearly opposite to the works of Broadbury, situated on the point of a hill to my left. I then diveroed to the village of Marden; a place little known, even to antiquaries, but deserving of that general notice, which I hope to give it, A broad, and apparently old raised causeway, directed my course to this village where a large mound of earth, vulgarly called HATFIELD BARROW [Map], was the principal object of my attraction and inquiry. 1 had more than once visited this interesting relict of British antiquity, and in company with Mr. Cunnington and his pioneers, made a laborious but unsuccessful attack upon this huge pile, of which I shall hereafter relate the particulars.

The British works [Marden Henge aka Hatfield Earthworks [Map]] which now claim our attention, consist of a deep ditch and bank, having its vallum on the outside of the ditch, and enclosing within its area one tumulus of very large dimensions and another differing in its form, and smaller in its proportions; the interior of this area comprehends fifty-one acres of land, which are intersected by hedges, and in cultivation. For a better explanation of this interesting assemblage of British antiquities, I must request my readers to refer to the annexed Plate I. No. 2, in which their relative situation is accurately laid down. Passing the rivulet at Marden mill, and following the road, which leads through these works, to the village of Beauchamp Stoke, I observed a plantation to my left at A, where the earthen agger evidently appears, and continues with little interruption to B, assuming a circular form at first, but afterwards contracting itself to an angle at a point where it is intersected by the aforesaid road; at C, it approaches the large barrow, and pursuing an irregular course, terminates abruptly in the water meadows at D, but points evidently to some high ground on the other side of them at E. This circumstance, owing to the sudden disappearance of the bank and ditch at D, has caused much debate and inquiry amongst us. Mr. Cunnington was of opinion that the bank did not cross the brook, but proceeded in a line from A towards D; but the Rev. Mr. Charles Mayo, residing at Beauchamp Stoke, whose father first took notice of these works, after a frequent and very minute investigation of this ground, thought otherwise, and was dccidedly of opinion, that the original vallum extended across the present¹ water meadows to the high ground marked E. E. E. E. Some ingenious remarks which he kindly communicated to me by letter, induced us to re-examine the ground very minutely with my surveyor and draughtsman, Mr. Philip Crocker, and we were both of opinion that Mr. Mayo was right in his conjectures respecting both the direction and extent of this bank and ditch. On examining the southern circumvallation of this earthen work, we were struck with the singularity of that part of the works marked F, which appeared as if intended for an approach or entrance into the area of the circle; and this idea was in a great degree corroborated by the circumstance of our discovering the sile of a British village on some high ground not far distant.²

Note 1. I say present, because I doubt much if any existed io the tera of the Britons, and perhaps only a vcry inconsiderablc stream, whic.h in mocc modern times may possibly have been enlarged, if not conducted hither for the benefit of the mill.

Note 2. A great deal of British pottery bas been found in the fields on this side of the works.

The large round barrow [Hatfield Barrow [Map]], being the most prominent feature within the area, claims our first attention. Neither labour nor expense has been spared in endeavouring to ascertain the original purpose for which this immense mound was raised; but each has failed, and full scope is still left conjecture. As that may in some degree be assisted by a full statement of facts attending the operations of our spade, I shall here insert them from our journal of the year 1809.

The enormous tumulus witl-ün this work, called HATFIELD BARROW [Map], is situated on the East side of the area; it is of a circular form, and has a deep and wide ditch around it, which in winter is nearly full of water, although the soil consists of a greenish sand. From having been some time in tillage, the height is probably decreased some feet; its elevation above the floor of the barrow (viz. the original soil) is at present twenty-two leet and a half: the area, within the circum. vallation, supposing the works perfect, would amount to fifty-one acres.

We began our operations by making a large square opening in the centre, but the tumulus being composed of sand, which continuallv slipped down, we afterwards canied our section in the form of an inverted cone. When at the depth of about twenty-two lee! on the cast side of the section, and eighteen on the west side, we came to the bottom of the barrow, but from the heavy masses of sancl that still continued to slip down, several days elapsed beforc we could clear the space of about twentyethree by twenty-four feet of the floor, During the operation of digging, our discoveries where exactly similar (o those we have made in many other circular barrows where cremation has been practised. From the depth of two or three feet from the summit of the tumulus to the bottom, the men frequently met with charred wood, animal bones of red deer, swine, and those of a large bird, as well as two small parcels of burned human bones. Upon tile floor of the barrow, we found charred wood scattered over the part that we cleared, and in one place, where there were large quantities of charred wood, we picked up some small pieces of human burned bones; and as similar circumstances often occur in barrows where burning has been practised, we concluded that in this spot the body of the person here interred. was consumed, and that herc his remains were gathered up, to be finally deposited in a cist, or under the shelter of a sepulchral urn; and our anxiety as well as our hopes of information began rapidly to increase: but alas! notwithstanding all our energy and exertions, we were doomed to remain in ignorance respecting the original destination of this gigantic barrow; and fortunately had not (added to our disappointment) to regret the loss of several of our labourers, who most providentially escaped an untimely end by having been called off from their work by Mr. Cunnington, at a time when the soil of the barrow appeared sound, but proved otherwise, by falling in very shortly after the men had quitted their labours.

Mr. Cunnington was of opinion that this mound was sepulchral, but from the discoveries we made in digging down from the summit to the floor, I do not think he found a sufficient basis to support his hypothesis. YVith respect to its high antiquity, and being the work of our British ancestors, no doubt can be entere tamed; and its situation about midway between Stonehenge and Abury, with the vicinity of a British trackway, seems to indicate an intermediate connexion with those two grand sanctuaries.

Although I have so frequently agreed in opinion with Mr. Cunnington upon British topics, I cannot justify myself in coalescing with him respecting the sepulchral origin of this tumulus, though I think it may have been devoted to religious as well as civil purposes. It may probably have been either a Hill Altar, or a locus consecratus, ac which the Druids attended to decide various causes, and issue their decrees; such which are described by Cæsar as existing in Gaul.

"Ii (Druides) certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutum, quæ regio totius Callie media habetur, considunt in loco consccrafo. Huc omnes unique qui controversias habeut, conveniunt, eorumque judiciis decretisquc parent. Disciplina in Britannié reperta, atque inde in Galliam translata esse existimatur," &c.

Once in every year the Druids assemble at consecrated place in the territory of the Carnutes, whose country is supposed to be situated in the centre of Gaul. Hither such as have my suits depending, resort from all parts, and submit implicitly to the decrees of the Druids. Their institution is said to have come originally from Britain, frorn whence it passed into Gaul,"

That this enclosure was not destined for military purposes, the circumstance of the ditch being placed within the vallum, most satisfactorily proves; and we can never imaoine that so laborious an earthen work could have been constructed merely to protect a mound raised over the body of a simple individual. In the ditch and valium we perceive a resemblance to the orander temple at Abury; and a huge tumulus supplies, witllin the area, the place of a stone temple, for here nature has not produced that material, which is so abundant in the immediate neighbourhood of Abury. I am therefore incGned to think that this barrow was designed for an hill altar, or a place of general assembly, not a sepulchre; and the numerous remains of the horns and bones of men, birds, and beasts, which have been discovered within the barrow, and area of the earthenworks, seem to corroborate this opinions.¹

Within the area of this entrenchment, and further towards the south, there is another small earthen work, which deserves our notice; its form is circular, and its diameter one hundred and ninety-eight feet; its vallum is slightly raised, and the interior rises gradually to a low apex. In digging within the area, we round a few bits of old pottery, and a little charred wood, but no marks of any interment. Its elegant form has been much defaced by tillage, and soon will probably be entirely lost.²

Note 1. Mr. Mayo informs me, that in levclling a part of the bank, a very considerable quantity of stags' horns and bones were found, and the skeleton of a man, deposited about four feet beneath the surface. This circumstance seems to prove that the spot was made use of as a place of sacrifice previous to raising the earthen valium.

Note 2. On revisiting this ground in the autumn ofthe year 1818, I had the unexpectcd mortification to find, that the great barrow had been completely levelled to the ground, and no signs remained of its previous existence.

The names of Broad Sheet, and Honey Street, as well as an opening formed by nature in the ridge of hills, point out to us the direction of the British track-way towards the high ground, which it begins to ascend a little beyond the village of Alton, where we perceive the figure of a horse, in the act of trotting, on the declivity of the downs, which was cut about four years ago by an inhabitant of Alton. On reaching the summit of the hill, a new country, and an extensive range of verdant down, with numerous flocks of sheep, open to the view, and we find ourselves, on all sides, surrounded with vestiges of the Britons. The opening through which the track-way passes, is formed between two hills, the one bearing the name of Knap, the other of Walker's Hill; the former distinguished by a very ancient earthenwork on its summit; the latter by a very large long barrow. The vale through which the track-way now directs its course, is rendered interesting by the British remains which it presents in tumuli, and other earthen works; one of which, close to the side af the track-way, is very perfect: it is of a square form, and has a barrow within its area. On ascending the ridge of hills, the grand boundary called WANSDITCH, unexpectedly attracts our attention, and looking both North and South, the eye enjoys a most delightful prospect, and a very advantageous view of the sinuous line of the ridgeway from hill to hill, &c.¹ We now descend along the sides of a steep hill towards East Kennet, leaving a large long barrow upon an eminence to the left, and crossing the river Kennet, proceeded to Overton down, where I reached the limits prescribed to this Station, and continued my journey to Marlborough on the turnpike road. The once memorable field, adjoining the eastern boundary of Overton down, and well known, in former days, by the title of the Grey Wethers, now presents the unbroken surface of a verdant meadow, without one stone to mark its ancient title. In my younger days it had been pointed out to me as a curiosity; and two or three years ago, I witnessed the breaking of the last stone in the field. But the traveller, whose curiosity does not tempt him to make any unnecessary deviation from the turnpike road, may form a competent idea of what the former Grey Wether field originally was, though upon a much larger scale, by looking at one adjoining thc left side of the road at the base of Overton hill.

Note 1. As the ancient track-ways of the Britons form an essential part of the antiquities connected with that people, and as that on which I am now travelling may be esteemed one of the most extensive in our island, I have thought fit to illustrate. it by two engravings, taken from this point; the one looking south- wards towards Salisbury; the other northwards towards Berkshire. See Plate II.

Having satisfied my curiosity on this spot, I traversed a fine tract of down, and passing near a tenement which still bears the name of Thick Thorn farm¹, I regained the line of the British ridge-way, when a square enclosure, very properly called the FOLLY by a neighbouring shepherd, when I made inquiry concerning Wayland Smith², indicated the site of the object of my research.

This curious monument of British antiquity, distinguished in modern times by so ridiculous a title, stands at a short distance from the ridge-way, and on its left side. It was one of those long barrows, which we meet with occasionally, having a kistvaen of stones within it, to protect the place of interment. Four large stones of a superior size and height to the rest: were placed before the entrance to the adit, two on each side; these now lie prostrate on the ground one of these measures ten, and another eleven feet in height; they are rude and unhewn, like those at Abury. A line of stones, though of much smaller proportions, encircled the head of the barrow, of which I noticed four standing in their original position; the corresponding four on the opposite side have been displaced. The stones which formed the adit or avenue still remain, as well as the large incumbent stone which covered the kistvaen, and which measures ten feet by nine, I have had occasion to remark in a former part of my work, that one side of the long barrows almost invariably pointed towards the east; and that here, on digging, we always had found the sepulchral deposit; but in this instance, this barrow deviates from thc general ltlle, by pointing north and south; yet stilt the kistvaen is placed towards the east. ne avenue at first goes straight from south to north, then turns abruptly to the east, where we find the kistvaen.

Note 1. More will be said of this thorn-tree hereafter.

Note 2. A ridiculous name given to a British monument or very high antiquity. Mr. Wise, in his letter to Dr. Mead, concerning some antiquities in Berkshire (page 37), says that according to vulgar report, "at this place lived an invisible smith, and if a traveller's horse had lost a shoe upon the road, he had no more to do, than to bring the horse to this place, with a piece of money, and leaving both there for some little time, he might come again and find the money gone, but the horse new shod."