William Cunnington was born at Grafton in Northamptonshire in 1754. He settled as a tradesman at Heytesbury, about 1775. He was an active man until he suffered from ill health. His doctor told him “to ride out or die,” and heeding this advice Cunnington took to horse-riding on the downs. While so doing he took an interest in the tumuli. A fellow of the Society of Antiquities, Cunnington excavated many of the barrows. Sir Richard Colt Hoare dedicated his Ancient History Of Wiltshire to Cunnington, acknowledging his help. Cunnington died on 31st December 1810 and is buried just to the right of the porch, in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul at Heytesbury.