Stukeley, Itinerarium curiosum (1776)

pp. 175

I mentioned before, how much I suspected a cove which had ftood near the manor-house in the north-west part of the knoll : this I would have dedicated to the element of Water, or particularly to the river flowing by, the Isca which I have shewn to be its Celtic name : and this cove, thus situate, would offer itself conveniently to the course of the stream, and meet, as it were, to salute the Nymphs or Naids moving down the stream east ward. I think likewise this might be another reason of their pitching upon this piece of ground ; for probably they might think there was more sandtity in a river that ran eastward ; it is certain the ancients accounted it more wholesome, for a physical reason, as meeting the Sun’s rising beams, to purify it from all noxious vapor : and for this same reason is there another similitude between this work and that of Abury, the Kennet running eastward its whole length.

As soon as I came on the ground, I observed the form of the hill or knoll that contains this work, and that it perfectly resembles that of the ancient

[The Plate Engraving is placed here]

pp. 176

ancient circus’s ; and the fine lawn on the south side, together with the interval northwards between it and the river, made an admirable cursus for races of horses, chariots, and the like, as I doubt not in the least to have been the practice in old British times at this very place. This notion is exceedingly confirmed by the remarkable turn in the road, humouring exactly the circuit of this cursus, and coinciding with part of it, as is apparent in the view of the country Plate and just on the south side the manor-house is a declivity at this day, and so quite round, admirably adapted to the benefit of the spectators, who, running round in a lesser circle, might easily equal the swiftness of the horse, and be spectators of the whole course. I suppose all the sorts of games practised here, which are mentioned in Homer upon the death of Patroclus : this was done at their great religious festivals, and at the exequies of renowned commanders, kings, and chiefs ; for it is remarkable at this very day, all those sports mentioned by the most ancient poet are now practised among us ; which shews our Asian extract from the early times, and only accounts for that surprising custom of chariots mentioned to be among the Britons by Caesar, which they wisely applied to war likewise, whilst the Romans used them only upon their circus and diversions. The great plain in the middle of the area was convenient for the works of sacrificing, and after for feastings, wrestling, coyting, and the like: and from the memory, perhaps, of these kind of exercises, sprung the notion of Sir John Hautvil’s Coyts, he being a strong and valiant man, and expert in these games of our hardy ancestors : the vulgar confounded the two histories into one, and, fond of the marvellous, applied the name of Coyts to those monstrous stones. So in Wales to this day they call the kromlechea, Arthur’s Coyts.

Stukeley, William (1776). Itinerarium curiosum, or, An account of the antiquities, and remarkable curiosities in nature or art, observed in travels through Great Britain : illustrated with copper plates. London : Printed for Messrs. Baker and Leigh, in York-Street, Covent-Garden. Available online via Archive.org.