More Scenes from Wiltshire
The Avebury Stone Circle
For me the most remarkable area of Wiltshire is Avebury. It is not just a circle of stones... although one encompassing an area of almost thirty acres and having a circumference of well over a kilometre is certainly remarkable in itself for that. It is an area of prehistoric richness with, close-by, the remarkable Silbury Hill, Windmill Hill, the Avenue, the Great Ridgeway, the West Kennet Long Barrow and so much more that it can take days to see properly rather than the limited gaze one has of Stonehenge its smaller, though more famous, neighbour some miles to the south.
The antiquary John Aubrey, describing Avebury to Charles II said that it, "...does as much exceed in greatness the renowned Stonehenge as a Cathedral doeth a parish Church..." But it is not just size that gives this impression, for Stonehenge with its concentrated focal point has far more immediate impact on the eye.
Avebury's greatness is in its variety and the fact that it is full of life. Not here the turnstile and tunnel leading to an ancient monument roped-off from onlookers... but a village complete with pub, Post Office, shops, telephone box, trees, car-park, houses, cottages and gardens, barns, cattle, sheep, road signs, junctions and juggernauts... all within the massive circle that was erected half a millennium before any similar stone was taken and raised at that other more famous temple and tourist attraction on Salisbury Plain. And just outside the circle is more of the village, including the local primary school, parish church, manor house, local-league football pitch and other village amenities.
Unfortunately throughout the centuries there has been a considerable amount of destruction of the standing stones... broken-up because of their pagan connections as well as for building more cottages in the village.
 Fortunately, for posterity, the stone's shapes and sizes were recorded and sketched in 1722 by William Stukeley so at least we know what Avebury looked like then. But thank goodness The National Trust didn't have its way at one time with plans to demolish each dwelling inside the circle as it became vacant in order to "restore" the site to some of its former appearance. What is there today is the living village of Avebury and it should be kept that way - Grade II listed telephone box and all. To have displayed the circle of stones as another roped-off tourist attraction would have been a folly then... and probably turned it into one by now.
Visitors are catered for all year around... there being no admission charge to the circle itself. Opening times, charges and facilities for the National Trust Information Centre, Chapel Visitor Centre, Avebury Manor and Edwardian Gardens, The Henge Shop, Alexander Keiller Museum, the "Red Lion" pub and last but not least the vegetarian / vegan "Circle Restaurant" are all listed on the Kennet District Council web page which includes a map and transport options for a visit to this site of 6,000 years of history.
8:18:09 PM 
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