Time Team Special: Journey to Stonehenge (repeat) Sunday 14 May, 4.40pm
Stonehenge is Britain's most famous henge: a massive, ancient construction that is shrouded in mystery. But a mile away is an even bigger henge: Durrington Walls. In a major excavation project, archaeologists linked the two monuments and revealed an extraordinary and sophisticated picture of Stone Age life.
The web pages to accompany this programme can be found at:
I feel so sorry for people seeing Stonehenge for the first time.
When I first went there I was 14 -we did not have a car and I asked my father to take me in the school holidays -this entailed a bus to Andover, a bus to Amesbury -then a long walk but in those days lorry drivers always offered lifts to Stonehenge and this one did for us on a very hot summer day.
It was magical -sun, flowers, quiet -the ability to actually walk in and out of the stones and touch them -nothing can ever take that first impression away -no walking round and round on a path just the sheer wonder of wandering to and fro.
Then (I made my father walk back to Amesbury because I was embarrased at hitching, he as an ex serviceman did not suffer any such thing but to please me walked) he then took me to Old Sarum by bus before going back to Salisbury and home. Again it was magical -soft winds, grass, flowers and lots of imagination as to how it had been.
I wish those of you going now for the first time could enjoy the experience that I had.
A similar experience was at Littlecote House when owned by the Wills family -a never forgotten experience.
(Funny I still feel 20ish and I can still protest and sing 'we shall not be moved')
Did anyone from way back yonder ever read Bulldog Drummond and his little jaunt at Stonehenge -or perhaps it was the guy who took up the tale after Sapper's death.
I remember us driving past it many times on our way to family holidays in Devon and Cornwall but my father would never stop. He was one of those drivers who wasn't going to make any "un-necessary" stops which would make us late or ruin his average speed. So until relatively recently my memories of Stonehenge were watching it whizz past from a Singer Gazelle.
I was lucky enough to see it in the early 70's when I was a fairly small child and you couod still wander around the stones. We saw it late on a September evening with few people around just as the sun was seting, Very atmospheric.
Last stopped there in 1989 when on a trio with Sheffiled university and was quite appalled by the shabbyness of it. As we were with a rather well known archaologist at the time we got to go inside it, but were greated by a hail of abuse from some tourists who didn't see why we should be allowed in and not them
Unfortunately, my memories of our visit a couple years ago are not good ones... It was quite shabby and the gift shop was full of foreign students on a school trip and it felt like their main aim was to shoplift/pick pocket as much as they could, which I guess is an unfortunate sign of the times - I understand that the queue to get served is the worst spot, so watch your bags and pockets!
Hopefully the plans for the new road and visitirs centre will greatly improve things.
If these plans come together it will hopefully bring back some of the magic and the solitude and it might even make things a little quieter as it may deter the casual visitor.
As for getting to touch the stones, I beleive that there are several guided tours (out of hours) which let you go up to the stones but these are expensive.
And, if like me, you were disappointed with Stonehenge and the fences, make sure that you visit Avebury - it's everything that Stonehenge should be!
Hi, I've just been having a little surf re: out of hour/inner circle visits and at first I could only find coach trips etc which were £60+...
But I've just found that the English Heritage web-site have booking forms for out of hours/private visits at £12... and as these are at dawn or sunset they should be very atmospheric!
Am with you over Avebury -went there one sunny day last summer on impulse and it was wonderful -everything it should be (and you could touch the stones) took lost of pics for my Australian penfriend who is an artist (over 50 years writing and we haven't met yet!)
It makes me very sad that Stonehenge is "shut off" in this fashion. I went there several times in the sixties and seventies, and took my children It was magical, being able to wander around and imagine in situ what ceremonies would have been performed there. I remember telling the children not to make too much noise because it was a holy place like a church. It was awe inspiring. Now, I hate passing it knowing I can't get up close.
A few years ago I would have agree,but not now.Stonehenge is no more a place for inner reflection than say the local cemetery.Its lost its meaning (whatever it was). As a place for tranquil inner thought the forest at sunset prevails.Anyone wanting to experience a moment of timeless enlightenment and connection to the past realy needs to experience Winter sunrise on the saltmarsh,not a pile of stones lifted into place by Victorians and used as a party venue.
Missed this one first time around so this repeat was a bonus. Lots of conjecture and assumptions made but everyone was up front about this. It's often said after one of these specials that this is what TT will eventually evolve into some day. Fine by me.
It would have been well worthwhile hanging round for a few hours.
