Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

Here's a 1910 photo of the Den
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5451164002/

Here's a 1910 photo of the Den
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5451164002/

Devil's Den was the remains of a long barrow - the mound destroyed and the stones fallen. It was restored in the early part of the 20th century by a well meaning antiquary who restored to how he thought it should look. I was puzzled as to why it was the only 'portal tomb' in Wiltshire until reading the superb little book by Peter Fowler and Ian Blackwell An English Countryside Restored - The Land of Lettice Sweetapple (found in my local Tourist Information Centre and still one of the most useful reference books on the Fyfield/Overton area there is).

I just wondered if by reconstruction you meant it was "recreated" using non-original stones and did climbers over the ages cause the original knocking down. I would've thought that the renovators would've noticed rock-art especially if it is such a rarity in the area. BTW you should've voiced your opinion at the "disrespect" at the time even though you didn't feel it was harming the (reconstructed)stones, your associates might've had a little respect for your feelings and not investigated the stone quite as thoroughly in your presence.

In general i agree with you, but also it depends why you're climbing on the stones, and who is.
I understand that day, from what i've read, you had with you what could be classed as the 3 foremost experts on rock art in their respective areas. ?

Inquisitive jovial sorts who's laugh in the face of conventionality.

In 'defence' of June, although she certainly doesn't need me to stand up for her, it's not always easy to voice an opinion when in the company of people who you may consider your peers or you are fearful of if strangers. A 'time and a place' often decides these things and I've been in that position myself on more than one occasion.

I just wondered if by reconstruction you meant it was "recreated" using non-original stones and did climbers over the ages cause the original knocking down. I would've thought that the renovators would've noticed rock-art especially if it is such a rarity in the area. BTW you should've voiced your opinion at the "disrespect" at the time even though you didn't feel it was harming the (reconstructed)stones, your associates might've had a little respect for your feelings and not investigated the stone quite as thoroughly in your presence.

It was feared that the setting of the north east upright was slumping. Arthur Passmore (A.D. Passmore) oversaw this concreting work in 1921-2, it cost £55 15s 1d (weird amount!) the cash was raised by subscription.

At the risk of sounding like a clueless bufoon, can I ask why exactly it is frowned upon to climb on stones, is it a respect thing, or are we seriously saying that a barely 11 stone bloke will break or wear down a several tonne capstone or standing stone, when I first saw a dolmen I couldnt help climbing on to it, I dont anymore, but not because i'm scared of knocking it off but just because ive been there done that.
Ive tried a bit of restoration on an upland cairn and nearly crushed a finger in the process, are we presuming that there is an army of cairn abusers there single mindedly destroying them, in the time it takes to rearrange a cairn you could simply walk off the hill/mountain, I for one dont understand the process of cairn rearranging.