In the fall of 1899 Sir Edmond Antrobus offered Stonehenge for sale to the British government, with an asking price of £125,000 (~$250,000). Stonehenge went unsold, even though there was rumor of an American interested in purchasing and moving it to the States. The idea of moving it was short lived even though many years later the London Bridge was sold as scrap and was successfully moved to the USA before it too could fall down. The Stonehenge Photo used in this new's account of the proposed sale was provided by Firth.

Sir Edmond Antrobus offered to sell Stonehenge invoked quite some public outcry. Stonehenge 1899 Punch cartoon by Charles Harrison was published 30 August 1899 protesting the proposed purchase by the government.

In 1901 it was again offered to the government for £50,000 (~$25,000) les than half the original asking price and this offer too was also rejected. !901 was a busy year around Stonehenge, several things happened all around the same time. An Engineer was hired, Stonehenge was fenced off, and Restoration work began, a Guard was employed and Visitors were charged admission. A Guard shack also serving as Gift Shop and Visitors Center was built next to the Sun|Friar|Heel Stone providing a single access to the circle from the road, for this express purpose.

In Sept 1915 Stonehenge was sold for about $33,000 to Mr. Cecil Chubb who three years later on October 26, 1918 gifted it to the First Commissioner of Works, who received it as a gift on behalf of the nation.

Here is a link to the most resent 2010 appraisal of Stonehenge, now valued at £51 million or about $73,000,000.