Marquess unveils Longleat's Stonehenge
Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 13 June 2001 Page Views: 2222
Modern SitesDaily Telegraph, By Richard SavillTHE Marquess of Bath has unveiled his own version of Stonehenge on his Longleat estate.
The 22 granite stones, nine of them measuring over 15ft and the heaviest weighing 19 tons, have been designed and created by the artist, Paul Norris. They have been placed at a viewing point known as Heaven's Gate.
Lord Bath, 69, best known for his rejection of a conventional marriage in favour of a series of mistresses, or "wifelets", said he hoped the stones would become an integral part of the Longleat landscape. He said: "Heaven's Gate has always been one of my favourite places. It is a truly beautiful, magical place. These magnificent stone sculptures evoke and reflect that awesome natural beauty without imposing on it.
"Although the artist has deliberately left the meaning of the stones up to each individual to decide, one could say that they represent the ancient spirits of Longleat and the timeless Wessex landscape. Despite their great size and enormous weight, when the moon is full tiny crystals and metals embedded within the stones reflect the moonlight.
"This makes each sculpture appear to glow and shimmer, adding to the magic and mystery. I'm hopeful that the stones will remain in place for hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years and become, over time, an integral part of the Longleat landscape."
The stones and a ring-shaped "gateway" were built from granite from a quarry beside the De Lank river on Bodmin Moor. Mr Norris, who spent five years on the project, said: "I didn't want to dominate the area and I hope they blend into their surroundings."
Daily Telegraph
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