There is still another of these long archdruids’ _tumuli_ at _Abury_, which leads me to describe a kind of ancient monuments which I meet with here, and near _Stonehenge_ and elsewhere; which I take to be houses of the Druids, or their courts of judicature, or both. The principal of them here, is a remarkable thing, upon the _Hakpen-hill_ east of _Abury_, near a mile, between it and _Rockley_. That part of the downs thereabouts is called _Temple-downs_, and the thing is called _old Chapel_. Lord _Winchelsea_, Lord and Lady _Hertford_ and myself were curious in observing it, _July 6, 1723_. ’Tis a large square, intrench’d, 110 druid cubits by 130, like a little _Roman_ camp, with one entrance on the south-west side, towards _Abury_: for it is posited with accuracy, (as all these works are) from north-east to south-west. The situation of the place is high, and has a descent, quite round three of its sides; the verge of the descent inclosing it like a horseshoe. The entrance is on the side next _Abury_, on the isthmus of the peninsula (as it were,) on the shortest side of the square, the south-west. It is made of a vallum and ditch; beyond that, a row of flat stones set quite round and pretty close to one another, like a wall. Beyond that, another lesser ditch. There are stones too set on each side the entrance. On the north-west side is a large long barrow 50 cubits in length, with two great stone works upon it. One on the end next the great inclos’d place, we have been describing: another stonework towards the other end; which seems to have been a semicircular cove, or _demi-ellipsis_ consisting of five great stones; a _Stonehenge_ cell in miniature, but now in ruins. This probably gave the name of _old Chapel_ to the place; the barrow likewise has been set quite round with great stones.
In the second stone-work, one stone lies flat on the ground, along the middle line of the barrow. On each side a flat stone stands upright, and two flat stones stand upright at right angles, as wings to ’em. Upon them I suppose other stones were pil’d as a _kist-vaen_. Here probably lies the body of the interr’d. The stones are generally very large, about ten feet long.
The whole I take to have been the palace and interment of an arch-druid, and his tribunal or seat of justice. ’Tis posited exactly enough south-east and north-west. The learned Mr. _Rowland_, who wrote the history of the _Isle of Mona_, describes just such works as this in that place, and calls them houses of the Druids.