Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1878 V17 Pages 253-254 is in Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1878 V17.
Supposed Stone-Circle near Abury
One mile south of Silbury the wanderer over the down in that district may have noticed a few sarsen stones lying scattered in an irregular line on the brow of a hill commanding a full view of Silbury to the north, with Abury beyond it.
A close examination of these stones some years ago caused me to suspect that though now overthrown, and so moved from their original position, they must have once formed the segment of a large circle. But though I have many times visited them, and speculated on their probable intention, it was not till this autumn, when a more careful scrutiny resulted in my finding four other stones peeping just above ground, and certain faint indications of a trench, all of which would come within the supposed circle, that I determined to examine the ground more searchingly with the probe and the spade.
Accordingly having obtained the ready permission of the owner, the Rev. Robert Ashe, and the cordial consent of the occupier, Mr. Pinniger, and having happily secured the valuable assistance of one, who by his admirable treatises on Abury and Stonehenge, has earned the title of a master in British antiquities (Mr. William Long), I set a careful man to dig early one morning in September last; and guided by the stones which appeared above ground, and the mark of the trench, we triumphantly vindicated our impression that it was a circle, by unearthing in that one day no less than twenty-two sarsen stones, lying from two to twelve inches below the surface.
That these stones, though generally very small, were manifestly placed in the position they now occupy, in many cases nearly touching one another, and that they formed part of a large circle, is (I think) unmistakable. What that circle was, and what was its probable intention, I will not now discuss. Enough for the present that we have proved its existence; that the area it occupied is very large, with a diameter of about ninety yards; that the traces of the entire circle are by no means complete; and that subsequent days' diggings have as yet revealed but four more stones, none of which come within the exact circle.
It is my intention to continue the examination, when the weather will allow on that most exposed down. I only make mention of the investigation now, before it is completed, in order that, while the stones are yet uncovered, any one who desires to do so, may visit the spot, and form his own opinion of the circle, which may readily be found by following the waggon-track nearly opposite Silbury, on the Beckhampton side, and continuing due south till the stones are reached.
A. C. SMITH.
Yatesbury Rectory,
October 24th, 1877.
Note 1. It has been suggested to me that the rebus may stand for Baynton, as one of that family had the Britford manor for a few years as trustee. The foliage however appeared rather to be that of an ash.