Avebury: its lesser-known features. Tom Robinson













Tom Robinson: Avebury stone-smasher

William Stukeley (1687-1765) felt sufficient disgust at the destruction of the stones at Avebury to parody farmer Tom Robinson by christening him “The Herostratus of Avebury” and producing this tailpiece for his Aubury book in 1743. On the left smoke rises from one of the burning pits where the stones were first heated and then dowsed with water to crack them. A bat hangs ominously above Robinson, while on his right a hag presides over the dark and tragic scene of even more stones awaiting destruction.

Tom Robinson’s headstone is in Avebury’s churchyard.

More here – http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/the_shame.html
and from the H M J Underhill Archive here -
http://web.arch.ox.ac.uk/archives/underhill/viewarchive.php?albumID=1

Sir John Lubbock on building new houses at Avebury

The continued destruction of prehistoric monuments is a fact which I am sure we all deeply regret, and which reflects little credit on us as a nation. This year a portion of “Abury”, the grandest monument of its kind in this country (perhaps in the world), was actually sold for building purposes in cottage allotments.

Sir John Lubbock speaking to the Anthropological Institute on 15th of January 1872.

"Recently the current statutory guardians of Avebury, English Heritage, expressed their opposition to the development of the site of the adjacent Bonds Garage for housing yet then failed to exercise their available powers towards it, thus allowing building to go ahead – which it will shortly – thus blighting the northern approach to Sir John’s grandest monument of its kind in this country (perhaps in the world) forever."
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The White Horse Inn


Pubs: The White Horse Inn

Just a few miles from Avebury, heading towards Swindon on the A4361, is the charming White Horse Inn at Winterbourne Bassett (look out for the pub sign on your left if approaching from Avebury; the pub is about a quarter of a mile down the road on the right (post code SN4 9QB for those with satnavs).
There's no accommodation at the White Horse, and the pub is not open all day, but the place has a friendly atmosphere and an extensive à la carte menu of home-cooked English and European food which is served either in the pub or in the light, air-conditioned conservatory. There are lawned gardens and ample parking space at the front and sides. The dining areas tend to get busy at peak times so it's a good idea to book in advance -
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