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Photo Pages: Avebury - Stone Circle in England in Wiltshire
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Submitted by Andy B on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 Page Views: 41281
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 Site Name: Avebury Country: England County: Wiltshire Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Marlborough Nearest Village: Avebury
Map Ref: SU102699 Landranger Map Number: 173
Latitude: 51.428016N Longitude: 1.854678W
Condition:| 5 | Perfect | | 4 | Almost Perfect | | 3 | Reasonable but with some damage | | 2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site | | 1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks | | 0 | No data. | | -1 | Completely destroyed |
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Ambience:| 5 | Superb | | 4 | Good | | 3 | Ordinary | | 2 | Not Good | | 1 | Awful | | 0 | No data. |
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Access:| 5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access | | 4 | Short walk on a footpath | | 3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk | | 2 | A long walk | | 1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find | | 0 | No data. |
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Accuracy:| 5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates | | 4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map | | 3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map | | 2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village | | 1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town | | 0 | no data |
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Internal Links:    
External Links:               Avebury submitted by h_fenton
Stone Circle in Wiltshire. As well as the main ~500m diameter circle there are the remains of two inner circular features, one of which may have been a horseshoe. Two Avenues (one now destroyed) connected to the circle.
Some statistics:
* The world's biggest stone circle
* Bank circumference: 1.5km, height: 17m area: 11.5ha
* Average stone weight: 40 tons
* Man-hours to construct: 1.5million
Archaeologists locate the remains of the 'lost' Beckampton Avenue.
The excavation, in August 1999 revealed the remains of six stone settings. These form an avenue that the excavators believe to be part of the 'Beckhampton Avenue' leading westwards from the henge, last recorded in the 1720s by the antiquarian William Stukeley. Continued on the University of Southampton press release This work is part of the four year Negotiating Avebury Project, which includes virtual reality modelling of the stones.
Much has been written about Avebury that I won't repeat here. I would especially recommend Prehistoric Avebury by Aubrey Burl and Michael Dames' book The Avebury Cycle, in which he discusses the relationship between the different features in the local landscape, including the local springs. He suggests these springs, such as the one at Swallowhead, between the West Kennet Barrow and Silbury Hill had special significance to the ancient inhabitants of the area.
Barry Cunliffe's Wessex to A.D. 1000 is useful in that it covers the background to all the monuments in this area, based on the many excavations.
Another interesting book is Places of Power by Paul Devereux, the second half of which covers Avebury. In the first part he gives his and others' theories on the significance of landscape on ancient man; from the Aborigines to those who left us so many similar myths, suggesting a deep-rooted source in the human subconscious. The Avebury half expands on his 1991 Antiquity Paper, 'Three-dimensional aspects of apparent relationships between natural and artificial features within the topography of the Avebury complex' (Antiquity 65: 894-8) In plain language that you can just see Silbury Hill from a small area inside the henge, a phenomenon we saw on our recent visit with Terence Meaden.
Access: Avebury village is well signposted. National Trust owned with full tourist facilities. Use the large car park.
Note: Upcoming events at Avebury see comments.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this pageTo see the most up to date information please register for a free user account.
More pictures in our eGallery: Avebury Complex
More pictures in our eGallery: Avebury Aerial
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
A close-up of the feature on Stone 106 in the southern inner circle, which Terence Meaden refers to in his book - 'The Secrets of the Avebury Stones'- as 'the vulva mark' .
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
The side of Stone 206 nearest the Cove is different again. Caught here in a brilliant burst of late sunlight, 7 May 2010.
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
A closer view of the more famous 'face' on Stone 206 of the northern circle.
7 May 2010.
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
Avebury's 'face' stone, No. 206 in the northern circle, with fallen stone No.207 in the foreground. (The lower 'face' - facing right - is more prominent here.)
7 May 2010.
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
The broken Ring Stone and a view towards the southern bank, and the large Portal stone, No.98 in the outer circle.
 Avebury submitted by AngieLake
The broken Ring Stone, looking towards the two huge southern Portals [Devil's Chair on outer face of R stone in distance].
 Avebury Stones submitted by bunny1887
Avebury Stones
 Avebury submitted by bunny1887
 Avebury submitted by JimChampion
Beech trees in silhouette on the bank at the southern entrance to Avebury henge. A very cold (but sunny) winter's day.
 Avebury submitted by JimChampion
As sunset approaches on New Year's Day the steps at the southern entrance to the henge are busy with visitors climbing for a better view of the henge.
 Avebury submitted by JimChampion
Stone 16 in the south-west quadrant of the great circle at Avebury. Lit by winter afternoon sun and photographed through a polarising filter.
 Avebury submitted by JimChampion
Stones in the south-west quadrant of the great circle. Stone 16 on the left in the foreground. A very chilly New Year's Day.
 avebury submitted by jackdaw1
taken @Avebury. entitled 'Spirit of the stones'
 Avebury submitted by DrewParsons
A view of the impressive ditch
 Avebury submitted by DrewParsons
A view across the ditch to the stone circles photographed in October 2009
These are just the most recent 15 photos of Avebury.
If you were logged in with a free user account you would be able to see our entire collection.
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same position Avebury - The Cove* Standing Stones (SU102699)
141m NE 58° West Kennet Avenue* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SU103700)
223m W 253° Alexander Keiller Museum* Museum (SU100698)
920m SE 118° Falkner's Circle* Stone Circle (SU109693)
1.3km W 253° Avebury Down Chambered Tomb (SU090693)
1.4km S 193° Silbury Hill Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SU100685)
1.4km S 193° Silbury Hill* Artificial Mound (SU100685)
1.4km W 254° Longstone Cove* Standing Stones (SU089693)
1.8km S 185° Swallowhead Spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SU101681)
1.8km SE 122° Overton Hill barrow cemetery* Barrow Cemetery (SU115686)
2.1km N 338° Winterbourne Monkton* Chambered Tomb (SU097719)
2.1km NW 302° Windmill Hill (Avebury)* Ancient Village or Settlement (SU087714)
2.1km NW 302° Windmill Hill (Avebury)* Round Barrow(s) (SU087714)
2.1km NW 299° Picket Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SU086713)
2.2km S 168° West Kennett Long Barrow* Long Barrow (SU105677)
2.4km E 92° Avebury Down barrow cemetery* Barrow Cemetery (SU126698)
2.5km SE 121° The Sanctuary Barrows* Barrow Cemetery (SU120682)
2.6km SE 128° The Sanctuary.* Stone Circle (SU118679)
2.8km NE 43° Monkton Down Chambered Tomb (SU116723)
3.1km W 271° Cherhill Cursus Cursus (SU07057000)
3.3km SE 143° East Kennett* Long Barrow (SU116669)
3.6km SW 247° Beckhampton Firs Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SU07276787)
3.7km SE 153° Harestone Down Stone Circle (SU113664)
3.9km SW 238° Hemp Knoll Enclosures 2 Misc. Earthwork (SU07496713)
4.0km W 252° Beckhampton Firs Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SU06646801)
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Re: Avebury (Score: 1)
by Tristam on Sunday, 27 January 2002
(User Info | Send a Message) | | When I look these images I hear the calling of the ancient ones. The moon above the stones is wonderful... | [ Reply to This ]
Re: Avebury (Score: 1)
by Derek (Stoneshapedlikeaseal@westkennetavenue.com) on Wednesday, 04 September 2002
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Surprised to see so few comments in this thread! I liked the write-up above though personally I'd take Michael Dames's book with a pinch of salt, enormously enjoyable though it is. Another recent publication well worth a read is "Avebury -biography of a landscape" by Reynolds and Pollard. I don't remember "Places of Power" having much to say about Avebury - - - I shall have to reread it soon! Each year Avebury seems to attract more people, great in a way but sadly a percentage of them are f*ckwits who leave candles and litter everywhere, etc etc. The interactive exhibition now installed in the Great Barn is well worth a look, the computer flyby through the stones is especially good, so too the landscape models. This summer a Tourist Info thingie has opened up in the back part of the chapel in Green St and while I can't comment on the knowledgeability of the staff there (as I didn't ask them anything) I'm sure they'll do their best and there's a reasonable array of trinkets and leaflets etc. I got a quite nice trashy mousemat with the cove printed on it! If you visit Avebury speak nicely to the stones and respect them please - - - and make sure you visit West Kennet Avenue as it's the best bit! |
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Re: Avebury (Score: 1)
by gormer on Saturday, 01 November 2003
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Avebury's stone circle was enchanting, and the first I'd been to while in England (on a tip from Wiltshire locals, we visited Avebury instead of Stonehenge on a Saturday afternoon in midsummer--far less crowded). The tourist facilities do a decent job of interpreting the site--I don't think I would have enjoyed my trip half as much without knowing the quirky little side stories about the unfortunate Barber/Surgeon Stone, for instance, or about the "recycling" of Avebury stones in local architecture. Sadly, I didn't have time to visit the wealth of other sites in the immediate area beyond the stone circle, but I can see how Avebury could easily become a vacation in itself. | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: Avebury (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Wednesday, 18 May 2005 | | elo! i went to avebury on a school trip, my friend fell down a hill!!! ha ha ha ha!! ther was loads of sheep poooooooooo! wich everyone was standing in!! the pub sounded like a gud idea!!! the stones were amazin, beta than i thought theyd be!! bye bye | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: Avebury (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Monday, 04 July 2005 | | i went to avebury on a school trip and with my family,there were loads and loads and loads of pooooooooooooo!my friend fell down the hill and got stung all over his hand but i don't care, i alos went climbing itis lovly at night if your wondering how i know because i saw on T.V. | [ Reply to This ]
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Saddling up for solstice (Score: 1)
by Andy B on Thursday, 08 June 2006
(User Info | Send a Message) | FOLLOWING on from the highly successful Blues n Zuz teenage discos run by Marlborough police, officers are about to launch the Blues on Twos.
That's what officers who will be carrying out bicycle patrols during the summer solstice celebrations in Avebury on June 21 are calling themselves.
The idea of having bicycle patrols was tested at the 2005 solstice gathering in Avebury.
PC Andy Sexton, who with PC Simon McLaren-Clark will be carrying out the patrols, said: "We tried it out last year and it was a fantastic success because we were able to hit the solstice people from a very community-based level."
continued...
Both officers are keen leisure cyclists so are looking forward to patrolling the solstice from their saddles.
This year the force is providing the pair with brand new Smith and Wesson all terrain bicycles, which are expected to arrive in Marlborough tomorrow.
More:
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/display.var.786375.0.saddling_up_for_solstice.php | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: Saddling up for solstice (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Wednesday, 21 June 2006 | | found the police at Avebury to be fantastic , although you saw them out and about and on their bikes ! what you noticed was their easy going nature and their sincerity to be part of the evening . Great community spirit and it was the same last year. Well done Guys . | [ Reply to This ]
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Solstice is celebrated (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 January 2007
(User Info | Send a Message) | TWENTY sun worshippers braved the cold to mark the winter solstice at Avebury.
Druid keeper of the stones Terry Dobney led a ceremony marking the important day on the pagan calendar.
While fog hid the sun, the group formed a circle within the stones.
Further south, confusion reigned at Stonehenge as English Heritage told a crowd assembled there that the solstice was not officially on until today.
About 60 people turned up to the circle in south Wiltshire only to be told it was the wrong day.
After negotiating with site managers English Heritage, the crowd performed traditional solstice activities before leaving peacefully.
Advertisement continued...
The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.
An English Heritage spokeswoman said most people assumed that because the summer solstice was on the 21st day of June that its winter counterpart occurred on the same date in December.
Stonehenge is currently competing against other iconic buildings and structures for the New Seven Wonders of the World.
swindonadvertiser. | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: The importance of Waden Hill? (Score: 1)
by AngieLake on Wednesday, 25 July 2007
(User Info | Send a Message) | I've done a lot of photo-posting from my Wilts holiday this afternoon, and included one of the view I had from my seat in The Devil's Chair towards the summit of Waden Hill. After this [on the evening of 7/7/07], I walked to the top of Waden Hill to admire the view.
Following my recent visit to Wiltshire I wrote a long letter to my brother telling him about some of the highlights, including this part about Avebury, and my thoughts when I suddenly saw the significance of The Devil’s Chair and its view towards Waden Hill:
“. I roamed around filming and photographing, then sat in the Devil’s Chair…a huge portal stone on one side of the original entrance to the main circle inside the Henge at the South. This massive stone has a natural ‘seat’ feature in its southern face – over which the higher part of the stone forms a slight canopy.
I was struck by how, maybe, the ancient officiator at ceremonies during Avebury’s original important rituals might have sat here, waiting for something to happen – a ‘signal’, say, from the summit of Waden Hill, which [I measured with my compass that evening] was due South.
Waden Hill rises to the west of the West Kennett Avenue of standing stones, which leads sinuously south from Avebury henge/circle and used to end in a ceremonial area called ‘The Sanctuary’. If you climb to the top of Waden Hill you can look over to the mysterious Silbury Hill, a huge flat-topped mound (the largest man-made mound in Europe) like a collapsing sandcastle surrounded by a ditch, or moat, if it fills with rainwater. Silbury is also visible from ‘The Sanctuary’, and is visible from West Kennett Long Barrow, too. I’ve also seen it from the huge henge banks near the lane from the car park at Avebury.
It’s just possible that the summit of Waden Hill was the link to all these places.
It struck me while visiting West Kennett long barrow, that if someone important was being interred there, a ceremony on top of Silbury might start - maybe by lighting a fire? Meanwhile, anyone on top of Waden Hill, or to the East at The Sanctuary, would see this and start their own ceremony. Possibly a procession would set off from The Sanctuary and dance or walk up the Avenue? Likewise, anyone at the main henge at Avebury (and particularly someone sitting on the Devil’s Chair portal stone, who saw the signal given from the top of Waden Hill), would then start the accompanying ritual in Avebury’s sacred henge, knowing it would soon be joined by the procession from The Sanctuary.”
[Copyright: Angie Lake, July 2007] (for what it’s worth!)
I don’t recall reading this anywhere, though someone probably has already seen it?
I like to make my own mind up about things, then read about them later. Of course, all those 'built' features would have to be concurrent for my theory to work!
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Re: Avebury (south area of henge) (Score: 1)
by AngieLake on Thursday, 08 November 2007
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Does anyone know what happened to the Ring Stone? I see the stump of it is shown in a photo in Burl's book 'Prehistoric Avebury', but we don't seem to have a photo of it on Meg P. | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: Avebury (south area of henge) (Score: 1)
by TwentyTrees on Friday, 09 November 2007
(User Info | Send a Message) | | See picture just uploaded taken in August with stump of ringstone in foreground. | [ Reply to This ]
Re: Avebury (south area of henge) (Score: 1)
by AngieLake on Friday, 09 November 2007
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Thanks Chris. Will look forward to this, when the next batch are on screen! |
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Averbury Monuments Teachers Kit (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Tuesday, 20 May 2008
(User Info | Send a Message) | Wessex Archaeology has produced a new online Teacher’s Kit for Avebury World Heritage Site, commissioned by English Heritage.
The new Teacher’s Kit is available online from today. It will soon be available on the English Heritage website.
The Kit will help schoolchildren heading for Avebury and the surrounding monuments make the most of their trip to the World Heritage Site. It is a downloadable resource for teachers of Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils. As well as information sheets for teachers there are on-site investigation sheets, puzzles, maps, treasure hunts and other games and activities to help pupils to learn about the history of these historical sites in an entertaining and engaging way.
“We want to encourage more schools to come to Avebury World Heritage Site and ensure that pupils have an educational and stimulating visit,” explained Lucy Bradley, Education Manager for English Heritage in the South West.
“The site is steeped in a rich and mysterious history and there is so much children can learn from a visit here. This new web resource will help them to discover the site’s historical significance using fun learning tools”.
The Teacher’s Kit came about after last year’s successful project at Silbury Hill to stabilise the ancient man-made mound. “Pupils from two primary schools and a secondary school visited while the work was in progress. The visit really helped the children to get an in-depth learning experience of the mysterious hill”, said Lucy “So we thought it would be great if we could create a Teacher’s Kit which encourages active learning for visits to the whole World Heritage Site.”
Avebury World Heritage Site is a Neolithic landscape which encompasses Avebury Stone Circle, West Kennet Long Barrow and Avenue, The Sanctuary, Windmill Hill and Silbury Hill.
Avebury Stone Circle, West Kennet Long Barrow and Avenue, The Sanctuary and Windmill Hill are managed by The National Trust on behalf of English Heritage.
http://news.wessexarch.co.uk/2008/05/06/avebury-monuments-teachers-kit/ | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: New Year's Walk at Avebury (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Monday, 05 January 2009 | Avebury And The Norsemen tells of one hundred and seventy standing stones at Avebury, the largest ancient monument in England. Norse myths and sagas written a thousand years ago tell how mankind’s earth was brought into being by three deities Odin, Vili and Ve. How this creation happened, the mythical attributes of their panoply of gods, is told in Icelandic stories.
Each group of Avebury’s ancient stones, item by item and concept by concept, match elements in the Norse tales. It seems the Norsemen inherited their mythical beliefs from very ancient times, from the people who designed and built Avebury about 2500 BC.
Why Avebury was built and its true purpose can now be told.
Avebury offers a visitor the impression of a quiet English village with a cluster of thatched cottages, pepperpot chimneys, a church spire and tall trees nestling in the emerald green folds of the southern English countryside. Crows fly high above, circling the treetops. But Avebury is far more than it seems at first glance.
Dotted throughout the village are totem-like slabs of stone, remnants of a most remarkable man-made ancient monument. You can amble through Avebury’s graveyard of standing stones and identify fragments of a plan originally conceived and built about 2500 BC.
One hundred and seventy mysterious hard grey sandstone megaliths were obtained from Marlborough Downs, five miles away to the north-east, each stone carefully chosen for its size and shape. They varied from a few tons to massive slabs of twenty tons or more, according to the particular purpose for which they were intended. You can appreciate the enormous building effort made by Britain’s inhabitants one hundred and twenty generations ago.
The consensus of belief, the impetus that led to the construction of Avebury’s ancient stones by those ancient people, requires our understanding. There must have been an overwhelming conviction similar to the religious faith held by many societies today. Only that kind of community inspiration can lead to a successful conclusion of the great temple construction project. The celebrated cathedrals of Europe, the mosques of Arab countries, the Buddha statues of the east, exemplify how mankind created temples in recognition of community religious convictions.
What were the religious beliefs of the ancient Britons? Who made the world and how? We have no direct evidence, yet maybe there is a hint of the past at Avebury. There is an answer to the riddle of Avebury’s ancient monument and its purpose.
Writings from twelfth century Iceland tell of a Norse myth describing the creation of mankind's world. Three ancient deities: Odin, Vili and Ve created mankind's world in this way: -
In the beginning of time, long before mankind's world was made, the gods lived in a great empty void of space. They were sorely troubled by wicked frost giants from the north, of whom Ymir was the worst. Eventually they killed Ymir and created the world from his body parts. A broad ocean encircled Earth, the deep wide sea was made from his blood. They raised Ymir's eyebrows to form a protective enclosure around the Earth. Ymir's skull formed the sky and his brains became the clouds. Four submissive slaves called North, East, South and West were summoned to hold up the sky, forever and ever. Within the newly created and protective stronghold called Midgard, a safe haven was made for men and women, for all the birds and animals. Warmed by the Sun and watered by rain, they lived in peace. It was said all families and races of mankind are descended from them.
From earliest prehistoric times, the number thirty-three has been used in an adjectival and symbolic sense to indicate sacred matters, deities, the ultimate place or person. Another Norse tale attributes Odin with thirty-three names describing his strengths and values.
Avebury’s outer ring of ninety-nine standing stones, three times thirty-three, is seen to represent each of the three all-powerful deities Odin, Vili and Ve. The oute
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Re: Events January/February 2009 (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Saturday, 07 February 2009 | Hi does anyone know what happened to one of the Two avenues that got destroyed? I sure would like to know. This is a great monument very similar to that of Stonehenge. Excellent Images. Much credit to you for all this work and reporting.
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Regards,
Jason
(Link removed)
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Re: Events January/February 2009 (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Wednesday, 11 February 2009 | | Is Avebury correlated to Stonehenge by any chance. Both sites gives me the creeps if you ask me. I think aliens came down and created both sites entirely with beams of laser or something to let us humans know that extraterestial life is out there
Regards,
Linda
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Re: Events January/February 2009 (Score: 1)
by Martin_L on Wednesday, 11 February 2009
(User Info | Send a Message) | | You may contact Erich von Däniken. Possibly he will make a new book out of it. |
[ Reply to This ]
Re: Events January/February 2009 (Score: 1)
by rodders on Wednesday, 11 February 2009
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Have indeed passed on the link to Erich`s office. |
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A great day out. (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Friday, 26 June 2009
(User Info | Send a Message) | From Swimmerpaul:
A great day out.
Date 18/06/2009
Swimmerpaul
In the recent spell of great weather i had a great day out. I live in Poole Dorset. I set out from there about ten am. First stop Old Sarum Brilliant site to visit especially on a clear warm day you can see for miles. Checked out the site of the original Salisbury Cathedral.Must visit the Parliament Stone on another day. On to Avebury This site is a must for anyone interested in old sites. You have West Kennett long barrow, Silbury Hill. and Avebury Stone Circle. My favorite is the long barrow at West Kennet. There is a short walk threw a field of yellow flowering rape there is a slight breeze on this warm summer day these are the days you remember in the long dark winter nights. The barrow site on top a hill not to steep so don't let that put you off.The long barrow can be entered and there are small chambers off of the main chamber its cool inside compared to the hear outside. This place is a five star site. And by the way its free. Silbury Hill is just across the road and Avebury village with its stone circle a ten minute drive away.
Swimmerpaul. | [ Reply to This ]
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Re: Avebury October events 2009 (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Sunday, 25 October 2009 | | Stone Tools workshop was really super. Learnt a great deal. Recommended very highly. Found a mesolithic flint blade in the middle of the Sanctuary en route, reported it to head archaeologist and now I am listed as the official finder!! Thanks megalithic for letting me know about this event - I had a really magical time. I can't see how it could have been better... | [ Reply to This ]
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The Summer Solstice at Avebury 2010 (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Saturday, 19 June 2010
(User Info | Send a Message) | Celebrations will take place in the Avebury Henge over the weekend of 19-21 June 2010, culminating with the sunrise on Monday 21 June.
If you are planning to visit Avebury for the Summer Solstice please be aware that this year is expected to be busy. There is only limited camping available with space for just under 100 tents.
Last year we negotiated permission for the use of a camping field of twice the size. But its use this year was withdrawn and despite working with village residents and Pagan groups to find a solution, no additional land could be found.
Since Avebury is a World Heritage Site, alternatives for camping are very limited. We want you to come and enjoy a peaceful Solstice but would ask you to consider using some of the other official campsites nearby, or perhaps just making a short trip for the main celebrations to save having to camp overnight.
Parking
Please note that over the Summer Solstice the car park can become full very early.
The Main National Trust Car Park is situated on the A4361 just south of the Henge Monument, and is a Pay and Display Car Park. National Trust and English Heritage Members can park for free. All proceeds from the car park go towards the care of Avebury.
Parking Charges:
* £5 all day (9.30am to 6.30pm in summer)
* £3 after 3pm
* Motorbikes can park for free
* The car park will be open from 9am on Saturday 19 June 2010
There is no on-road parking in Avebury itself or the neighbouring villages of Beckhampton, West Kennet or Winterbourne Monkton. If you park illegally you may be subject to penalty fines and even find your vehicle is removed by the local authorities. Silbury Hill car park will also be closed overnight during this period.
Please note that there is a height barrier in operation on the main car park over Solstice, and there will be no access for any vehicle over 2.1 metres high. This will include camper vans, coaches and some 4X4s.
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Information for People with Disabilities
The Henge is around 200m from the Main Car Park. It is a further 150m to the Old Farmyard, where the National Trust Museums and other facilities are based.
Blue Badge holders in cars can park for free in the Main Car Park and the Village Car Park, which is closer to the celebrations in the Henge.
Please note that because of Solstice restrictions, access to the Old Farmyard by vehicles will be limited. Please ring ahead if you would like to visit the museums over the Solstice weekend and need access to a disabled parking space.
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Public Transport
If you’re visiting Avebury at any time of the year we encourage you to enjoy a car-free day out.
During the Summer Solstice weekend, when the ancient stones are a tremendous focus for celebrations, it is especially vital to reduce our impact on the environment and the locality.
Avebury is just half an hour away from Swindon train station by bus, and is also on the National Cycle Network.
Regular buses serve Avebury from Swindon, Devizes and Trowbridge.
* Route 5 and 6 from Swindon and Devizes run hourly during the day – last bus is late afternoon.
* Route 49 runs hourly from Swindon and Trowbridge from early morning until early evening.
* A bookable service is provided by Connect 2 Wiltshire to Calne and Marlborough. Advance bookings only: 08456 52 52 55
Further information can be found via:
* http://www.wdbus.co.uk
* http://www.stagecoachbus.com
Please be aware the National Trust provides this information for your convenience only, we cannot be responsible for changes or charges involved.
Cam
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Re: Avebury (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Sunday, 20 June 2010 | | According the Robert Palmer (Skip) , many avebury stone markers were destroyed by Stonekiller Jackson, a bigoted priest from an earlier century who desecrated such places with fire | [ Reply to This ]
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Stonehenge and Avebury seminar at Devizes, May 2010 (Score: 1)
by Andy B on Monday, 21 June 2010
(User Info | Send a Message) | Josh Pollard’s discussion of “Neolithic Avebury” focussed more on what we don’t know, rather than what we do and, as such seemed to be setting a research agenda. Earlier we had seen aerial photographs that showed evidence of structures in Avebury’s western palisades. Josh Pollard wondered whether this was Avebury’s Durrington Walls, and suggested that there is significance in the association with the river, as in the Stonehenge landscape. He used an interesting term in connection with the (almost completely missing) Beckhampton Avenue: “memoryscape.” He suggested that the Avenue was constructed to commemorate the construction and subsequent eradication of the Longstone Enclosure. If so, to me this sounds very much like MPP’s suggestion that the extended Stonehenge Avenue was built to commemorate the construction and removal of Bluestonehenge by the river Avon.
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Explore the Landscape of Avebury,26 June- 27 June 2010 (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Tuesday, 22 June 2010
(User Info | Send a Message) | Explore the Landscape of Avebury,26 June- 27 June 2010
Spend all weekend exploring this unique place with these two full days of guided walks around the ancient monuments and stunning chalk downland of the Avebury World Heritage Site. Stop to take in the breathtaking sights and a picnic lunch.
Booking Essential 01672 539 250
26 June 10.30am - 27 June 4pm
Ticket price includes a picnic lunch
All Tickets £15
avebury@nationaltrust.org.uk
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=316
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Festival of British Archaeology at Avebury 17th July-1st August 2010 (Score: 1)
by coldrum on Tuesday, 22 June 2010
(User Info | Send a Message) | Festival of British Archaeology at Avebury 17th July-1st August 2010
Help us celebrate the Festival of British Archaeology with two whole weeks of events and activities for children including mini-digs.
Booking Not Needed 01672 538 016
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=316
Avebury: A Journey of Discovery (1)
20 July 10am
All Tickets £15
Let Avebury Archaeologist and expert Dr Nick Snashall lead you on a half day journey of discovery through this very special landscape of ancient monuments and stunning chalk downland.
Booking Essential 01672 538 016
Event part of the National Festival of British Archaeology.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=316
Avebury: A Journey of Discovery (2)
22 July 10am
All Tickets £15
Let the Curator of the Alexander Keiller Museum, Dr Ros Cleal lead you on a half day journey of discovery through this very special landscape of ancient monuments and stunning chalk downland.
Event part of the National Festival of British Archaeology
Booking Essential 01672 538 016
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=316
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Re: Avebury (Score: 1)
by Anonymous on Thursday, 01 July 2010 | In my book 'Stonehenge Sacred Symbolism' I explain how Avebury was built about 2500 BC in what was then the metropolitan centre of Britain and Ireland, 99 stones enclosed a sacred central area within which was the Cove, probably a fertility shrine. The southern ring of 29 stones enclosed a central quartz 'Obelisk' and 9 stones in a straight row plus two more offset at the row ends.The southern circle had the exact characteristics of an Icelandic saga telling of the trial by jury of nine of the complainants peers and two counsel for the defence and prosecution. The accused stood in the middle of the ring of stones, a death sentence was duly passed for the murder. A third feature was the holed stone, probably a good health shrine, the Norse goddess Eyr. `
The surrounding ditch and embankment, the four causeways, all these components correlate exactly with the Norse beliefs in the Creation of Mankind's Earth myth written by Snorri Sturluson, a scholar living in Iceland about AD 1100.
Our days of the week are named for the old gods Sunday, Moonday, Wedensday [Odinsday], Thorsday and Freyrday. These are the names of the deities who created Midgard, safe from the frost giants.
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