THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| VOL. X, NO. 290.] | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1827. | [PRICE 2d. |
OLD SARUM
Among the earliest antiquarian records, Old Sarum is described as a cityof the Belgae; and its historical details have proved an exhaustlessmine for the researches of topographical illustrators.
Thus, Sir R.C. Hoare describes it as "a city of high note in theremotest periods by the several barrows near it, and its proximity tothe two largest Druidical temples in England, namely, Stonehenge andAbury."1
"Ancient Wilts,"—Sir R.C. Hoare, speaking of Stonehenge, expresses his opinion that "our earliest inhabitants were Celts,X-- expresses his opinion that "our earliest inhabitants were Celts, who naturally introduced with them their own buildings customs, rites, and religions ceremonies, and to them I attribute the erection of Stonehenge, and the greater part of the sepulchral memorials that still continue to render its environs so truly interesting to the antiquary and historian." Abury, or Avebury, is a village amidst the remains of an immense temple, which for magnificence and extent is supposed to have exceeded the more celebrated fabric of Stonehenge; Some enthusiastic inquirers have however, carried their supposition beyond probability, and in their zeal have even supposed them to be antediluvian labours! Many of the barrows in the vicinity of Sarum have been opened, and in them several antiquarian relics have been discovered. In short, the whole county is one of high antiquarian interest, and its history has been illustrated with due fidelity and research.
The Romans held it as a strong military[pg 442]station, and it was admittedto the privileges of the Latin law, under the name of Sorbiodunum;2
Under the Saxons it ranked among the most considerable towns of the Westkingdom, and possessed ecclesiastical establishments soon after theconversion of the Saxons to Christianity.3
In the early part of the ninth century it was the frequent residence ofEgbert; and in 960, Edgar assembled here a national council to devisethe best means of repelling the Danes in the north.4
Arthur commanded it to be more strongly fortified by another trench andhigh palisadoes.5
In 1086, William the Norman convened in this city the prelates, nobles,sheriffs, and knights of his new dominions, there to receive theirhomage;6 and probably, within its walls was framed the feudal