West Kennet Long Barrow

West Kennet Long Barrow is part of the Avebury complex of Neolithic sites.

The tomb is thought to have been constructed around 3500BC, in use for a thousand years, then sealed with chalk rubble, and the gigantic sarcen boulders that now guard the entrance. This was at the same time as the great stone circle at Avebury was begun, and may signify a change in the focus of belief and religion.

The barrow was a long cold walk through grazing paddocks which were 'stodgie' apparently an English term for sludgy, muddy and slippery. The site was quite a bit larger than I expected it to be, I didn't have to bend over to get into the chamber, but then again I'm not that tall. Once inside the odour told me that the local sheep had been using the site for shelter. It was mind boggling to think that in similar environmental conditions in 3500BC Neolithic men dug out this mound /cave and utilised this space. I'm left wondering as I usually do when visiting historic or pre-historic sites, 'what exactly was their motivation? What were they thinking whilst conducting such a large architectural undertaking?' I think what's cool about it all is that we'll never know for sure, answers to these questions may forever remain in the realm of the imagination.

The Haunted Red Lion

29th October 2008

The 400 year old Red Lion at Avebury is in the centre of the ancient Stone Ring, and is reputed to be the most haunted pub in England. There is a well inside the pub that it is believed to be the resting place of "Florrie" the resident ghost.

Apparently she was the victim of revenge, her husband discovered her cheating ways and threw her down the well.

Avebury Gate

Avebury Gate
Originally uploaded by Belindas Velvet Memories

As we were about to leave Avebury I spotted this old wooden gate, it was so rickety but still in use.

Avebury Grove

Avebury Grove
Originally uploaded by Belindas Velvet Memories

Remembering what I'd read on numerous websites giving travel photography tips, I turned my back to the 'action' (the standing stones) and framed this shot. - Thanks to all those websites, I can't remember to name, including Digital Photography School - I learned a lot from those guys.

Avebury Stone Circle

Avebury
Originally uploaded by Belindas Velvet Memories

Avebury Standing Stones

Avebury Standing Stones
Originally uploaded by Belindas Velvet Memories

The Standing Stones of Avebury are part of the largest known stone ring in the world. Older than the more famous Stonehenge, and for many visitors far more spectacular, the multiple rings of Avebury are cloaked with mysteries which archaeologists have only begun to unravel.
The stones themselves were massive, the enormity of the whole series of rings, is only best appreciated from a height.

Hackpen White Horse

Hackpen whitehorse
Originally uploaded by Belindas Velvet Memories

This white horse is on a comparatively shallow slope, but is partly banked up to make it more easily visible. There is a car park on Hackpen Hill where that road crosses The Ridgeway, and the horse can be easily reached from it.

We stopped and took a chilly, brisk walk up the hill to get a closer look. What would have inspired someone, so long ago to do something like this?

The Hackpen White Horses origin is uncertain. It may have been cut in 1838 by a Henry Eatwell, Broad Hinton parish clerk, perhaps with the assistance of the landlord of a local pub, to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria. - But why a horse?