On this day in 1915, Stonehenge was bought at auction by a man named Cecil Chubb. As the legend goes, Chubb was only there to buy a set of dining chairs. Instead, he acted on impulse and made the winning bid for Stonehenge. Prior to its purchase, the monument was in a perilous condition. A popular attraction since the Middle Ages, by the 19th century people were known to chip the stones for souvenirs and scratch their names on the monument. In 1881, timber was used to prop up stones considered to be in danger of collapse while in December 1900, an upright sarsen stone fell and the massive horizontal lintel it held in place snapped in two. Chubb’s impulsive purchase marked a turning point in the care and protection of the ancient monument. Three years after purchasing it, Cecil Chubb donated it to the nation to secure its future. A major survey and programme of restoration followed. Today, English Heritage proudly continues to care for Stonehenge so that generations to come can be inspired and delighted by one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. . . . . #otd #onthisday #stonehenge #salisbury #wiltshire #visitsalisbury #visitwiltshire #visitbritain #lovebritain #lovegreatbritain #uk #england #englishheritage #travelphotography #visitengland #history #heritage #stone #archaeology #charity