William Stukeley as the original megalithomaniac. 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
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.
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
Related site: Avebury — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: John Michell | Megalithomania Revisited | Artists & Antiquarians at the Old Stone Monuments | AUDIO by MegalithomaniaUK