From the prehistoric to the merely ancient

I’ve had a busy old week and been unwell for longer so was unable to write at all so I hope this collection of photos which I took on Thursday. It was a very windy day and the temperature was not much above freezing but it did mean we had everywhere to ourselves.

I hope you enjoy them.

A freezing November day at West Kennet Long-Barrow
A freezing November day at West Kennet Long-Barrow
The large stones that once blocked the entrance
The large stones that once blocked the entrance
Inside are the burial tombs of some of those in the civilisation that built Stonehenge and hundreds of other stonecircles in Britain 5,000+ years ago
Inside are the burial tombs of some of those in the civilisation that built Stonehenge and hundreds of other stonecircles in Britain 5,000+ years ago
The central passageways leads deep into the mound with side chambers on each side where families were buried
The central passageways leads deep into the mound with side chambers on each side where families were buried
Silbury Hill, the tallest prehistoric man made mound in the world. So tall that there was once a fortress on it a thousand or two years ago.
Silbury Hill, the tallest prehistoric man made mound in the world. So tall that there was once a fortress on it a thousand or two years ago.
The outer ditch and earthen heap that encircles the mile wide Avebury Stone-circle
The outer ditch and earthen heap that encircles the mile wide Avebury Stone-circle
Avebury is the biggest Stone Circle in the world. Only a few miles from Stonehenge. So much better too and by comparison totally unvisited.
Avebury is the biggest Stone Circle in the world. Only a few miles from Stonehenge. So much better too and by comparison totally unvisited.
The Avebury stones are huge and about 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. Plus you can touch them and often there is no one else around
The Avebury stones are huge and about 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. Plus you can touch them and often there is no one else around
These old screen used to be common until King Henry VIII decided to get rid of them for their Catholic characteristics. However in places distant and remote from London, the locals had no wish to listen to the crazy Metropolitan crowds and would hide the screens when soldiers arrived at random to ensure the law if the king was being obeyed. Once they'd gone, the screen was put back in place.
These old screen used to be common until King Henry VIII decided to get rid of them for their Catholic characteristics. However in places distant and remote from London, the locals had no wish to listen to the crazy Metropolitan crowds and would hide the screens when soldiers arrived at random to ensure the law if the king was being obeyed. Once they’d gone, the screen was put back in place.
There's been a church at Avebury much earlier but this embroidery merely lists those from the 1066 Norman invasion
There’s been a church at Avebury much earlier but this embroidery merely lists those from the 1066 Norman invasion
Lacock Village, beautiful as ever but deserted in winter. Frozen in time and seen around the world in BBC shows as well as Downton Abbey, Harry Potter, Wolfman and many others
Lacock Village, beautiful as ever but deserted in winter. Frozen in time and seen around the world in BBC shows as well as Downton Abbey, Harry Potter, Wolfman and many others
Inside Lacock Tithe barn, 7-800 years old if it is a day.
Inside Lacock Tithe barn, 7-800 years old if it is a day.
Inside the Lacock lockup.
Inside the Lacock lockup.
A 16th century brewery for English beer made with hops.
A 16th century brewery for English beer made with hops.
King Henry VIII had Lacock Abbey closed and it was converted to a country home. In the 19th century Fox-Talbot invented a took the first photo using
King Henry VIII had Lacock Abbey closed and it was converted to a country home. In the 19th century Fox-Talbot invented a took the first photo using “modern” negative photography. He invented much else besides but was very modest and worked more for science than fame and rewards unlike his competitors
Lacock Abbey is almost 800 years old. This part of the Cloisters might be familiar to fans of Harry Potter as Harry, Hermione and Ron often walked here though they knew it as Hogwarts
Lacock Abbey is almost 800 years old. This part of the Cloisters might be familiar to fans of Harry Potter as Harry, Hermione and Ron often walked here though they knew it as Hogwarts
The Nuns of Lacock Abbey used to keep warm in the winter here and no doubt used their big cauldron.
The Nuns of Lacock Abbey used to keep warm in the winter here and no doubt used their big cauldron.

By Stephen Liddell

I am a writer and traveller with a penchant for history and getting off the beaten track. With several books to my name including several #1 sellers. I also write environmental, travel and history articles for magazines as well as freelance work. I run my private tours company with one tour stated by the leading travel website as being with the #1 authentic London Experience. Recently I've appeared on BBC Radio and Bloomberg TV and am waiting on the filming of a ghost story on British TV. I run my own private UK tours company (Ye Olde England Tours) with small, private and totally customisable guided tours run by myself!

18 comments

    1. I’m glad you liked my pics. Yes, it is a great cauldron.the best one I have seen I think is at Warwick Castle and belonged to an Anglo-Saxon man known as Guy The Giant (I think) and that one is even bigger.

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  2. This is great! We had been researching about where to drive to and in specific wanted to re-see Stonehenge. Avebury came up but we were not sure what to expect. Now we know! And Lacock is also one of the village towns in the vicinity that we considered to stop by before heading back to Salibury. Thanks for the sharing!

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    1. I’m glad that it was helpful and timely. I don’t know anyone who having visited Stonehenge and the Avebury sites, prefer Stonehenge but obviously somewhere along the centuries, Stonehenge got a better PR team. There are actually multiple stone circles within each other at Avebury as well as a large Manor House too which i didn’t visit this time. Lacock is extremely beautiful. It’s only 15 minutes in the car from Salisbury to Stonehenge and then about 35 to Avebury and from there no more than 15 to Lacock. A great day out though if you have time, I’d maybe have a day in each locality.

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        1. I think some of the hotels are cheaper. All the attractions seem to have the same price all year round, except for the Roman Baths which in July and August have a supplement. I’m a big fan of off-season travel, I always do my own then. Seems a bit of a waste to go abroad in the 3 or 4 months where London actually has warm-hot weather (some times).

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    1. It’s fascinating that Avebury is so much older than Stonehenge though you get the feeling because the Stonehenge stones are shaped whilst 1,000 years earlier I think it was everything people could do just to get them there.

      It’s funny what you say as I remember once taking a family from Oregon to a house and it was from about 1900 and they were amazed as they had never been in such an old house whilst my wife and I were also amazed as it was so “new” and we really liked its modern feel!

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  6. Once spent a night inside West Kennet Long Barrow – no vacancies @ th Marlborough in Avebury
    Studying our neolithic Archaeology @ Uni, there was no option to visit th sites studied, so in th Summer of 99 hiked all around Wiltshire – fantastic trip.
    Abbies r v inspirational to my historical fiction – wld love to visit Lacock some time!
    Cheers!

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    1. That must have been a great experience to spend the night inside there. I often think about doing so, I’m sure it’s quite cosy if you can find a “dry” floor in one of the chambers. I bet you have a great sunrise from there. I’m going to have to check out your writing!

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