Avebury henge

Alexander Keiller was rich, his wealth coming from the family marmalade and jam business, a household name 50 years ago. Keiller was a keen amateur archaeologist and after performing some local digs was so encouraged that he bought the Avebury site in the 1930s.

Of the original 600 stones that approximately made up the henge, only 16 remained at the time of purchase. For an intensive period up until the 2nd World War, stones were dug up and Keiller set about restoring the henge back to its former glory. Failing health meant that Keiller never finished his work and the site is now owned by the National Trust.

Pits where the stones stood enabled Keiller to know where the stones originally stood. Keiller first restored the avenue of stones leading up to the henge from the south, a truly impressive sight. It is is the western side of the henge that Keiller restored most, the eastern side is largely barren.

There are even stones which Keiller tried to put back together from fragments. As you walk around Avebury, concrete posts mark the location of some missing stones.

There is a very good museum dedicated to Alexander Keiller run by the National Trust which gives lots of information on his life.

North henge

At the north henge the major focus is on the two stones that make up the Cove, the ceremonial area at the heart of the henge. Like all stones at Avebury the stones alternate between male (tall and thin) and female (wide and squat). The female stone is thought to weigh up to 100 tons.

South henge

In the south henge, the stones are more complete. You are first attracted to the massive entrance stones.

A large concrete plinth now marks the position where one of the largest of Avebury's stones once stood. Known as the Obelisk, it was the central stone of the Southern Inner Circle henge.

The inner circle henges were the earliest components of the henge to be built. At about 2900 BC they predate by several centuries the final henge and avenues.