Ancient rulers believed that idle hands did the devil's work against them. Busy subjects were too tired to revolt.
"Now that you've finished digging that hole, fill it up!"
Peer's fears over 'pyramid' hillLord Avebury says he is "stunned" the Countryside Agency's wants to label Silbury Hill in Wiltshire as "unimproved chalk grassland". The move could lead to ramblers having free access to the hill, which opponents fear may cause damage. However, the agency says it took the decision because the 4,700-year-old hill is a "man-made structure"... The act has already sparked one high-profile spat in Wiltshire with pop star Madonna keen to protect her privacy and estate from walkers and inquisitive sightseers. On Monday Lord Avebury told the hearing, at Hungerford, Berkshire, the hill was "comparable with the ancient Pyramids of Egypt or the Great Pyramids of Mexico". Silbury Hill, near Avebury, is thought to date back nearly 5,000 years to the Neolithic period. Archaeologists from English Heritage began investigating the hill four years ago after a hole appeared in the top, prompting fears it could collapse.
BBC
Monday, May 17, 2004