Four Pines

 

September 21, 1915 there was an auction at the Palace Theatre in Salisbury, England. Cecil Chubb’s wife sent him there hoping he’d bring home a set of chairs or some curtains. Instead, the 39-year-old barrister bid on 30 acres of land. The bidding opened at £5,000. Cecil’s was the third and last bid at £6,600. At first, Cecil said it was just a whim. Later, he told reporters he’d bid on the property to keep it from falling into foreign hands. Cecil had just bought Stonehenge because he was afraid someone would charge an exorbitant fee to see the stones, or maybe even cart them away. Cecil donated his purchase to the Crown stipulating it be maintained in its present condition, and the visitor’s fee not exceed a shilling. For his generosity, Cecil was awarded a baronetcy. Hopefully his wife found being called “Lady Mary Chubb” adequate compensation for the chairs or curtains.