Meet William Stukeley, history's original megalithomaniac 🪦 Born in 1687, he became the first Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He rode Britain documenting ancient sites for "Itinerarium Curiosum" (1724). His 1740s books — Stonehenge (1740) and Abury (1743) — featured gorgeous landscape drawings. He watched sadly as a farmer named Robinson destroyed Avebury's stones. After taking holy orders in 1729, he devoted his later life to preservation, even styling himself a druid.
William Stukeley as the original megalithomaniac
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Key facts
- William Stukeley (born c. 1787, lived to ~80) was Secretary of the Society of Antiquities in London
- Wrote "Itinerarium Curiosum" documenting rides across Britain in search of antiquities
- Published books on Stonehenge and Avebury in the 1730s with accurate drawings of monuments in landscape
- Witnessed destruction of Avebury by farmer Robinson pulling up stones
- Took holy orders and became a clergyman, seeing himself as chief druid preserving ancient wisdom
- Stukeley associated Stonehenge and Avebury with the patriarchal tradition inherited by the Church of England
Site mentioned
Sources
LOST TREASURES RESURFACE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE ...cambridge.org
INTRODUCTION. The Society of Antiquaries of London has enshrined one hundred and seventy historical printing plates for more than two centuries.
William Stukeley - Wikisource, the free online libraryen.wikisource.org
Antiquary, ed. at Cambridge. Initially practising as a physician, took orders in 1729 and held benefices at Stamford and in London.
Antiquarians: Dr William Stukeley 1687-1765 | The Heritage Journalheritageaction.wordpress.com
In London he joined several societies, including. Society of Antiquaries – where he served as it's first Secretary, a post he held for nine ...
William Stukeley | History | Research Starters - EBSCOebsco.com
Stukeley became an accomplished scholar, joining the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries, where he served as the first secretary.
William Stukeley - Grantham Civic Societygranthamcivicsociety.co.uk
In 1718, he became the first secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London. His excavations at Stonehenge and Avebury were published in two books in 1740 ...
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