St James Church Avebury, Steeple views

January 12th 2006
The antiquarian William Stukeley (1687-1765), left us some of the most remarkable as well as important early images of Avebury. One of the most fascinating is 'A Prospect from Abury Steeple', for whilst all of Stukeley's local work offers us an insight into the past of a terrain we are familiar with, the all encompassing view from above offers us that little bit more.

In reality Stukeley does take liberties with the perspective, but does so to reveal things we would otherwise miss and fail to recognise. Silbury is not that close at hand of course, and if from St James Stukeley could see the Windmill on Wymans Hill then he was indeed blessed with a clear day.

One of the easiest things to overlook in Stukeley's work is that this record of Avebury past - was his present. Many of the buildings, walls, fences, were of recent origin. Stukeley in fact makes a point of recording what was modernity, for as we can see he marks the Bath Road we use today on which he depicts a coach
heading for what at the time was 'New Bridge'!

The 'new' Stukeley recorded alongside the 'ancient', demonstrates the need for a
comparative photographic record taken from the very spot where the great man based his recording.
Such a record could be made every decade and show change – even in Avebury !

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12th January 2006. © Pete Glastonbury