STONEHENGE,

Eight miles north-west of Salisbury.

This celebrated Structure, supposed to be the most remarkable piece of Antiquity in the whole island, has been for ages, and still is, the admiration of those who view it; but as the limits of this Guide precludes that notice here which so interesting a subject demands, the Reader is therefore referred for the fullest information, to a very copious and learned work, entitled "Conjectures on Stonehenge," by fifteen eminent Writers, with views, price 2s.

AMESBURY HOUSE,

THE SEAT OF SIR EDMUND ANTROBUS, BART.

One mile and a half north-east of Stonehenge.

This seat was designed by Inigo Jones, and finished by his scholar Webb. The Gardens are very beautiful; through them the river Avon sweetly meanders, which adds enchanting richness to the scene. Over the river is built a Bridge, with a delightful room in the Chinese taste, but which, in consequence of the House not having been inhabited for many years, was fast approaching to decay.

Here in this happy retreat, the late Duke and Duchess of Queensberry passed their time in that calmness and innocence which constitute true felicity. And while others were in pursuit of places and pensions, the Duke and his noble Consort were dealing out their beneficence to the indigent, and

rivalling each other in acts of humanity. This illus trious pair patronised the modest Gay, and at last paid a singular regard to his memory, by erecting a monument in Westminster abbey.

On this very spot stood the Nunnery founded by Queen Elfrida to expiate the murder of her son-inlaw, Edward the Martyr, in the year 980. In the reign of King Henry II. the Nuns were expelled for incontinence, and others from Font Everaud, in Normandy, introduced in their stead. Queen Eleanor was of this society, and also Mary, daughter of King Edward I., who took the veil here, with thirteen noblemens' daughters, on the Assumption-day, A. D. 1285. This abbey continued in a flourishing state until the reformation, when it shared the fate of other monastic institutions. The house, for eight years, to the end of 1800, was again occupied by a society of Nuns, who came from Louvain, in Flanders, and who are now removed to Spetisbury, near Blandford, in Dorsetshire.

Adjoining to Amesbury House, is the town of

AMESBURY.

Dr. Stukeley thinks it probable, that Amesbury, or Ambresbury, took its name from its vicinity to Stonehenge, which was originally called Ambres, or Main Ambres, signifying anointed or consecrated stones. Others say it took its name from Ambrosius, a British King, who founded a monastery there, with three hundred Monks, to pray for the souls of two hundred and seventy-one noble Britons, murdered there by the treachery of Hengist, the Saxon chief, the guest of King Vortigern.

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Wardour Castle, Fonthill Abbey, Stourhead, and Longleat Houses.

WARDOUR CASTLE,

THE SEAT OF LORD ARUNDELL,
Sixteen miles south-west of Salisbury.

This magnificent House was finished under the direction of Mr. Payne. In point of grandeur and beauty of situation it is scarcely to be equalled by any in this island.

The stair-case is very remarkable; it rises in the centre of the house from an octagon of forty-five feet in diameter, and is enlightened by a noble skylight dome: this stair-case is, perhaps, equal to any in Europe.

Here are many fine paintings, particularly Christ taken from the Cross, by Spagnoletto; a fine Head of a Fryar, by Titian; a Moonlight, and a Shipwreck, its companion, by Vernet; that are highly worthy attention.

Also a portrait of the celebrated Blanch, Lady Arundell, daughter of the Earl of Worcester, copied from an original picture by Angelica Kauffman. This picture is rendered particularly interesting by the historical circumstance connected with the history of the lady. It represents her extraordinary defence of the Old Castle, in the absence of her husband, during the civil wars, holding it for nine days, with only 25 men, against a party of 1300 of the parliament forces headed by Sir Edward Hungerford and Edmund Ludlow, and at length having expended her ammunition and provisions, surrendered the Castle on honorable terms, which, however, were not observed by the captors, who wreaked their vengeance on the buildings and plantations.

Shortly after this transaction, Lord Arundell returned, and severely punished their breach of faith; he sprung a mine under the Castle, and blew the greatest part of the traitors into the air.

The Chapel is very handsomely adorned, and has some good paintings and stained glass.

About three quarters of a mile distant stand the memorable Ruins of the

OLD CASTLE,

which was originally possessed by the ancient family of St. Martin, of whom Lawrence St. Martin was knight of the shire for Wilts, 34 Edward III. Afterwards it passed by divers successions through the noble families of Lovel, Touchet, Audley, and Willoughby of Brooke, to Sir John Arundell, Knt. who bequeathed it to his youngest son Sir Thomas Arundell, whose son Thomas was created by James I. Lord Arundell of Wardour. He had before been made a Count of the Roman empire by the Emperor Rodolphus II. for his valiant behaviour against the Turks in besieging the Water-Town near Gran; but the English peers denying him any place of respect an account of his foreign honor, the King made him a Lord, the ceremony of his creation being performed at Greenwich.

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FONTHILL ABBEY,

THE SEAT OF THE LATE JOHN FARQUAR, ESQ.

Sixteen miles west of Salisbury.

The foundation of this extraordinary Mansion, the erection and embellishments of which have cost immense sums of money, was laid in the year 1796, and was first inhabited by Mr. Beckford about the year 1807, and claimed our attention as a principal ornament of the county of Wilts.

It is surrounded by extensive woods, and built on one of the highest points of a romantic sweep of hills, which shelter in their bosom a truly Alpine lake of uncommon depth, and of the purest and most transparent water. The stone wall, armed with chevaux de frise, that fences the Abbey grounds, measures seven miles in circumference. These grounds are so variously shaped, so fantastically wrought by nature, and so happily intersected by concealed art, that a person might ride several days within the boundaries, without treading the same path over again, and could not easily find his way back, without the help of an experienced guide.

Nearly in the centre of this varied and luxuriant scenery, and from the long avenue on the west, the principal front of the Edifice displays itself, and bursts at once upon the view. The extent from north to south is three hundred and thirty-six feet, and the whole may be considered as consisting of three grand masses united together by the galleries and the cloister. The centre body is composed of the great Hall, the Tower, and its appendages. Towards the south stands a group of turreted Edifices; and, on the north side two other Towers, which

It has been thought advisable to retain the original account of this once celebrated Abbey, and thus to show what it was, and what it is now.