Cecil Chubb Purchases Stonehenge for £6,600
On this day in 1915, one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge, changed hands in a surprising way. Cecil Chubb, a local barrister and businessman, bought Stonehenge at an auction for £6,600. What makes this event remarkable is that Chubb, who wasn’t initially planning to buy the monument, ended up making a decision that would help preserve Stonehenge for generations to come.
The auction took place at the New Theatre in Salisbury, England, following the sale of the Antrobus family estate after the death of its last heir. Many locals expected that Stonehenge might be bought by a wealthy collector or someone from outside the country. However, Cecil Chubb, a native of the nearby village of Shrewton, placed the winning bid. It’s said that Chubb went to the auction intending to buy some dining chairs for his wife, but instead walked away as the new owner of Stonehenge. He paid £6,600, which was a significant amount at the time but still less than the monument’s estimated value.
Why did Chubb buy Stonehenge? The exact reasons remain a bit of a mystery, but it’s believed that his decision was driven by local pride and a desire to keep Stonehenge in British hands.
Three years later, in 1918, Cecil Chubb generously donated Stonehenge to the British government. He placed just a few conditions on the gift: that the public would always have access to it, that it would be well preserved, and that it would remain free from commercial exploitation. For his generosity, Chubb was knighted and became Sir Cecil Chubb, forever linking his name with the monument.
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Today, Stonehenge is managed by English Heritage and remains a symbol of British history and culture, drawing millions of visitors from around the world each year. Thanks to Cecil Chubb’s unexpected purchase and his generous gift to the nation, Stonehenge has been preserved as a national treasure, ensuring that this ancient monument continues to inspire awe and wonder for future generations.