The most notable Antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, on Salisbury Plain Restored by Inigo Jones Esquire, Architect Generall to the late King

"The most notable Antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, on Salisbury Plain" is a historical account written in the mid-17th century. The work focuses on the analysis and restoration of the ancient monument Stonehenge, while exploring its origins, construction, and the various theories surrounding its purpose. The author aims to clarify misconceptions regarding the monument's inception, particularly examining the involvement of the Druids and other ancient Britons in its creation. At the start of the treatise, the author, Inigo Jones, who served as the architect general to the king, expresses his fascination with architecture and the significance of Stonehenge as a remarkable piece of ancient engineering. He recounts how he was commissioned by the Earl of Pembroke to investigate the monument, reflecting on its grandeur and historical importance. The opening discusses various hypotheses about the builders of Stonehenge, suggesting that the Druids likely did not construct it, given their lack of architectural skills. Jones lays the groundwork for a thorough exploration of Stonehenge's history, seeking to provide a more accurate narrative of its creators while acknowledging the challenges in unraveling this ancient mystery. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Inigo Jones was an English architect who was the first significant architect in England in the early modern era and the first to employ Vitruvian rules of proportion and symmetry in his buildings. As the most notable architect in England, Jones was the first person to introduce the classical architecture of Rome and the Italian Renaissance to Britain. He left his mark on London by his design of single buildings, such as the Queen's House which is the first building in England designed in a pure classical style, and the Banqueting House, Whitehall, as well as the layout for Covent Garden square which became a model for future developments in the West End. He made major contributions to stage design by his work as a theatrical designer for several dozen masques, most by royal command and many in collaboration with Ben Jonson.