This is quite a common image from Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire, but what really appealed to me was the message on back.

These two stones are part of a feature of the Northern Inner Circle known as The Cove and whilst the buildings have been removed the stones themselves are still in place albeit at a slightly different angle.

I’ve long had an interest in Avebury and the surrounding area, it has long been a tourist attraction (maybe even when it was first built) and judging from the large number of postcards produced these have always been a popular souvenir.

The previous owner of this postcard took home a different kind of souvenir, which would of course be illegal these days. I assume the writer of this postcard kept this as a record of their visit for themselves rather than intending to send it to another person.

Visited on Oct 14, 1904 By Murry Dowding & myself. Brought back specimen of stone. Note difference between Stonehenge stone & this. Also visited Cherill white horse, & Silbury Hill. Lovely weather, sun shining & quite warm, midday

It seems that Murray Dowding was a photographer from Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire whose work also appeared on postcards, one of which I have in my collection, not of Avebury but another historical monument in Wiltshire.