Shiftless, roving and magotie-headed | Forum

Littlestone Nov 24, 2008 12:18:43

Described once as shiftless, roving and magotie-headed, John Aubrey (1626-1697) was perhaps the first person ever to describe Avebury in any detail. While out hunting one day Aubrey writes, "...the chase led us... through the village of Aubury: where I was wonderfully surprised at the site of these vast stones, of which I had never heard before, as also the mighty bank and grasse about it."

BBC Radio4 are running a five part, fifteen minute dramatisation this week of Aubrey's Brief Lives. Broadcast at 10:45am and repeated at 7:45pm.

nigelswift Nov 24, 2008 12:40:25

Replying to Littlestone

And here's the man himself http://www.redhillandreigatelife.co.uk/news/archive/display.var.2047401.0.brief_lives_theatre_royal_brighton_feb_1823.php

(And to save you asking, the answer's no, I wasn't there when that was taken...)

Stoneshifter Nov 24, 2008 12:51:57

Replying to Littlestone

Thanks - I've been called worse. Radio is King and I enjoyed the recent PD James serial. They're left broad enough so that if you miss one or two you can pick up again easily. And Little Dorridge started off on R4 originally.

nigelswift Nov 24, 2008 13:01:11

Replying to Littlestone

Strange isn't it that we owe virtually all of our early knowledge of Avebury to the shiftless, roving and magotie-headed plus liars, loonies and vandals. Plus ca change.... ;)