The Man Who Went Shopping For Dining Chairs and Accidentally Bought Stonehenge.
On September 21, 1915, a British barrister named Cecil Chubb was given a very simple task by his wife, Mary. She sent him to a local auction in Salisbury with strict instructions: buy a nice set of dining chairs for their home.
But as Chubb sat in the auction house, he got distracted. "Lot 15" came up for sale, a 30-acre plot of land featuring a crumbling, dilapidated ring of ancient rocks.
@VisionaryVoid
Three years later, tired of his wife’s complaints and realizing the immense historical weight of his impulse purchase, Chubb donated the entire monument to the British government.
He attached one strict condition: the public must always have access to it. Today, it stands protected forever, all because a husband couldn't stick to a shopping list. #globalmuseum
The public must always have access? How's that going?
I've only been once. Couldn't get near.
@MHowell
I've never visited that pub. The first time I went to Avebury we drove up from London in the middle of the night to see the dawn over the circle, so it was a little early. The second time I went from a wedding in Newbury to see it again and there wasn't time for a drink.
It looks very cool though.
@MHowell @OneInterestingFact @globalmuseum
It's very much worth the time. Take a half day at least and walk right around it to really get the scale of the place.
We met Mum & Dad there for lunch and a wander - which wasn't long before Mum's stroke and loss of mobility.
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