The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Stonehenge Avenue 1
Stonehenge Avenue 2
Stonehenge Avenue 3
Stonehenge Avenue 4
Stonehenge Avenue 5
Stonehenge Avenue East End
Stonehenge Avenue West End
Stukeley's Eastern Beginning of the Avenue
Stonehenge Avenue is in Stonehenge Monuments and Burials, South England Avenues, Stonehenge Late Neolithic Early Bronze Age.
See: [Map], [Map], [Map], [Map], [Map], [Map], [Map], Stukeley's Eastern Beginning of the Avenue [Map].
2400BC. The Stonehenge Avenue [Map] is a 2.8km Avenue of two parallel ditches, about 20m apart, with banks on both sides that connects Stonehenge to the Wiltshire River Avon. It is neither straight or level. It descends from Stonehenge oriented to the angle of the Midsummer sunrise then turns towards the east continuing upslope after which it turns to the south east and descends to the Wiltshire River Avon. At the Stonehenge end there is a natural feature of chalk ridges whose orientation is on the midsummer sunrise / midwinter sunset which some believe may have been significant in the siting the monument.
Carbon Date. 1720BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: antler; from near the base of the ditch.
ID: 17862, C14 ID: HAR 2013 Date BP: 3720 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 3790, End BP: 3650
Abstract: Stonehenge: Avenue [Map]; 1976-77
Reference Name: Jordan, D, Haddon-Reece, D, Bayliss, A 1994 'Radiocarbon dates: from samples funded by English Heritage and dated before 1981', London: English Heritage
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1678BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Antler, from context C6, Avenue northern ditch [Map], Stonehenge terminal (C6) in primary silt, Phase 3 at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England. Comment (subm): Date accepted as reliable; 2 sigma cal range given.
ID: 8078, C14 ID: BM-1164 Date BP: 3678 +/- 68, Start Date BP: 3610, End BP: 3746
OS Letter: SU, OS East: 123, OS North: 422
Archaeologist Name: (ed Cleal)
Reference Name: Cleal, R M J et al, 'Stonehenge in its landscape: 20th century excavations' (Engl Heritage Archaeol Rep, 10, 1995), 319, 323,??? 2, Table 64
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1400BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Charcoal from hearth in Stone Floor (Late Neo assemblage 12m from Avenue ditch) at Stonehenge Avenue [Map], Wiltshire, England. Comment (lab): Preliminary (micro counter) result
ID: 8930, C14 ID: HAR-4878 Date BP: 3400 +/- 150, Start Date BP: 3250, End BP: 3550
OS Letter: ST, OS East: 122, OS North: 422
Archaeologist Name: M W Pitts
Reference Name: Proc Prehist Soc, 48, 1982, 75-132 esp 128 (date)
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1020BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Antler from NE ditch just N of West Amesbury House (= Pd IV) at Stonehenge Avenue [Map], Wiltshire, England.
ID: 4503, C14 ID: BM-1079 Date BP: 3020 +/- 180, Start Date BP: 2840, End BP: 3200
OS Letter: SU, OS East: 141, OS North: 415
Archaeologist Name: I F Smith
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 21, 1979, 341-2; Roy Comm Hist Monuments (England), 'Stonehenge and its Environs' (1979), 8 and 11; Proc Prehist Soc, 48, 1982, 75-132
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 750BC. Early Iron Age Carbon Dates
Report: Antler and bone, id as antler tine and two bovine scapulae, from primary chalk silt of both ditches (below Amesbury bypass) at Stonehenge Avenue [Map], Wiltshire, England.
ID: 4612, C14 ID: I-3216 Date BP: 2750 +/- 100, Start Date BP: 2650, End BP: 2850
OS Letter: SU, OS East: 123, OS North: 422
Archaeologist Name: L and F Vatcher (Hawley 1923)
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 21, 1979, 341-2; Antiquity, 50, 1976, 239-40; R M Cleal et al, 'Stonehenge in its landscape' (1995) (rephasing)
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Stonehenge by William Stukeley. Table XXIV. The back Prospect of the beginning of the Avenue [Map] to Stonehenge. A. the beginnings of the avenue. B. the old Kings barrows C. the 7 Kings barrows D. Vespasian's Camp [Map]. [Haradon Hill is speculatively identified as what is now known as Telegraph Hill [Map]] on which there are numerous tumuli.
Wessex from the Air Plates 39 and 40. The Stonehenge Avenue [Map].
Stonehenge by William Stukeley. Table XXX. Prospect of the west end of the Cursus of Stonehenge. A. The eastern meta [Map]. B. the eastern wing of the avenue [Map]. C. Stonehenge.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Stonehenge by William Stukeley. Table XXVII. The Beginning of the Avenue [Map] to Stonehenge, where it is now Ploned up. A. The 7 Kings Barrows B. The Avenue going towards Stonehenge C. The 6 Old Kings Barrows.