Merlins Mound

Close to Avebury is a small town called Marlborough, it is a unique town with neolithic history. Marlborough got its name from "Maerl's Barrow", meaning Merlin's grave. The town's motto is "Ubi nunc sapientis ossa Merlini" i.e., "Where now are the bones of wise Merlin." In the grounds of Marlborough College is a huge tiered mound, it is the oldest attraction in the town...... This is where Merlin is thought to be buried.

You can climb to the top of the mound using some stone steps that are next to a fascinating Victorian folly, made with shells. The steps are narrow and you need to be fit to get to the top, but when you are up there you find a new quiet, spiritual world.

The Victorian shell folly, thousands of various shells make it up.	Jan looking into the Folly, note the antler style top of the gates.	A wonderful tree on the top of the mound, I just had to have a photo taken with it.
View of a white chalk horse from the top of the mound, I have enlarged the horse so that it can be seen in the picture..	The rose garden below the mound a beautiful peaceful area filled with sweet smelling roses. This is what Princess Diana should have had as a memorial.... Much more fitting.	The mound seen from the rose garden, the trees grow all around the mound as well as on top of it. A castle was once erected on top of it.