Early British Trackways, by Alfred Watkins. Hereford: Watkins, Meter Company; 4s. 6s.
A little book that must make a strong appeal alike to the antiquary, the historian, the tourist, and the nature-lover is “Early British Trackways,” being a reprint (with additions) of a lecture delivered before the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club by Mr. Alfred Watkins of Hereford. Mr. Watkins claims to have made a discovery of very considerable interest, and seems to have substantiated his claim in these pleasant pages. He has discovered nothing less than the secret of the lay-out of the ancient trackways of the country, ways that were old long before the Romans came. He has done this by exploring for himself, with map and notebook and compass, and has certainly made out a strong case in favour of the ideas he propounds. His investigations naturally were made in the country round Hereford, but his theory can be tested by the student in any other district, and, with this clue before them, we may be very certain that many local students of the past will follow the matter up, and perhaps place us in possession of further interesting discoveries. Mr. Watkins has not only told his story in a charming way, but he has elucidated it with various maps and a series of photographs so exquisite that we are sure his little book will have a wide vogue if only for its pictorial claims. It is to be hoped his ideas will be carefully and generally followed up, for it looks as though they were capable of throwing not a little new light on prehistoric Britain.
Source info: MS note by AW “Western Mail Alt[??] May 15th”.