Books, Prehistory, Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1935 V47 Page 288

At the end of the last century Sir Henry Meux, of Dauntsey House, carried out several excavations in N. Wilts, none of which were recorded. It will be remembered that the writer recovered the story of the opening of the chambered long barrow in West Woods by a mere chance, as all this work was done with the greatest secrecy, as also was the removal of fireplaces and panelling from old farmhouses on the estate about the same time.

At Avebury a spot on the S.E. side was chosen to cut a trench through the bank, about 124 yards south of the Avebury — Rockley road. The trench still shows plainly.

Four feet below the crest of the bank a curious box-like structure formed of chalk blocks was uncovered which contained twenty deer horn picks of large size, all worn down by use, the tines being almost gone. They were evidently old tools, collected and deposited there. The cutting was continued down to a depth of eighteen feet when the old turf line was reached; the lower part of the bank was extraordinarily loose and cellular being made of large pieces of chalk. I well remember as a boy visiting the work and looking into the holes with a rolled-up newspaper.

On the old turf level were fou id three worked flints with greyish-white patina. One is an ordinary scraper made from a semi-circular shaped flake; the round side is finely worked all round while the flat side is plain and sharp, the bulb below has been chipped away. It is 1⅜ins. long.

The two other flints here illustrated, a saw two and three-eighths of an inch long formed from a thin flake and serrated on both edges, and a finely worked chisel-edged or " petit tranchet " arrowhead the wings of the edge being broken off apparently since its discovery. These flints were found under the bank in undisturbed soil on the old ground level and afford valuable material for dating purposes. In the present confused state of opinion it seems useless to discuss them, but they seem to be of late Neolithic or Beaker date. If this opinion is correct then Avebury cannot have been made before that period.

Most elaborate plans and sections were made of this excavation which together with the finds were sent to Dauntsey House and scattered at the sale there during the war. However, one of the above-mentioned They bear the unmistakable hand-writing of the excavator, who has lately examined them and confirmed the above details of the work carried out under his charge. The illustrations are slightly over full size.

Henry Meux 2nd Baronet: On 28th December 1817 he was born to Henry Meux 1st Baronet and Elizabeth-Mary Smith Lady Meux. On 7th April 1841 Henry Meux 1st Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 2nd Baronet Meux of Theobald's Park in Hertfordshire. On 19th January 1856 Henry Meux 2nd Baronet and Louisa Caroline Brudenell-Bruce Lady Meux were married. She by marriage Lady Meux of Theobald's Park in Hertfordshire. She the daughter of Ernest Brudenell-Bruce 3rd Marquess Ailesbury and Louisa Elizabeth Horsley Beresford Marchioness Ailesbury. On 1st January 1883 Henry Meux 2nd Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 3rd Baronet Meux of Theobald's Park in Hertfordshire.