Stonehenge In The 1930’s
In the 1930’s, more than 15,000 visitors were recorded arriving at Stonehenge in one midsummer month.
This was largely the result of a huge upsurge in car ownership, enabling families to set out and explore the British countryside for themselves.
Stonehenge even featured on advertisements for Shell petrol at this time.
By 1935, a small car park was leased on the opposite side of the Shrewton road to prevent cars from blocking traffic.
The Stonehenge visitor experience at this time was enhanced by a site museum, housed in one of Hawley’s excavation huts.
But this wasn’t a permanent solution, and within a few years, the hut was leaking so badly that the finds had to be transferred to Salisbury Museum.
A further amenity was the Stonehenge Café, established in 1927 on the edge of Stonehenge Bottom, just over 360 metres from the stones.
The café was described in an Office of Works memo as ‘a cheap flashy little building’ which ‘vulgarises unspeakably this world famous and most impressive monument’.
Such objections ensured its demolition in 1938, despite its acknowledged value for visitors.
The custodians’ cottages were demolished at about the same time.
With the coming of the 1950s, attention turned back to serious archaeological research at Stonehenge.
Stonehenge Airfield
Stonehenge airfield was originally built during World War I as a military airfield.
It served as a base for aircraft during both World Wars and was also utilised for training purposes.
After the wars, the airfield continued to be used for various aviation activities, including civilian flying clubs and occasional military exercises.
However, by the late 20th century, the airfield faced declining usage and concerns about its economic viability.
Additionally, its proximity to the historic site of Stonehenge raised environmental and cultural preservation concerns.
In the early 21st century, plans were put forward to close the airfield permanently.
There were debates and discussions among stakeholders regarding the future use of the land and its impact on the surrounding area, particularly with regards to conservation efforts for Stonehenge.
Ultimately, the decision was made to close Stonehenge airfield, and it ceased operations as an active airfield.
The airfield closed in 1921 but its buildings were still standing – a blot on the Stonehenge landscape.
Meanwhile, at Stonehenge itself, the idea of digging a sunken fence to protect the monument was resurrected.
A ‘ha-ha’ (or sunken boundary) had first been mooted in about 1900, but instead a simple post-and-wire fence had been erected around the site.
The idea now was to enclose the whole ‘Stonehenge Triangle’ – the area bounded by the modern A303, the old A344 and the byway to the west.
Only the caretakers’ cottages at the junction of the A303 and A344 would be excluded.
The design envisaged not only a massive ditch but also within it a fence with iron spikes and strands of barbed wire.
Fortunately, the scheme was quietly abandoned, probably for lack of finance, though perhaps someone in authority realised what a terrible idea it was.
History of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument.
It was built in several stages: the first monument was an early henge monument, built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC.
The exact purpose behind the construction of Stonehenge remains a subject of speculation and debate among archaeologists, historians, and scholars.
While no definitive answer exists, several theories have been proposed to explain why Stonehenge was built.
One prevailing theory suggests that Stonehenge was constructed as an astronomical observatory or calendar.
The alignment of certain stones with the movements of the sun and moon, particularly during the solstices and equinoxes, supports this idea.
It's believed that Stonehenge may have been used to track celestial events, such as the changing seasons, to mark important agricultural and religious dates, or to predict eclipses.
Another widely accepted theory posits that Stonehenge served as a religious or ceremonial site for ancient peoples.
The monument's imposing stone structures, circular layout, and alignment with celestial bodies suggest it may have been used for rituals, ceremonies, or gatherings of spiritual significance.
Some researchers believe it was a place for communal worship, ancestor veneration, or rites associated with fertility and renewal.
Evidence also suggests that it was used as a burial ground, with cremated human remains found in and around the site.
It's possible that the monument served as a place for the interment of elite individuals or as a sacred space where ancestors were honoured and remembered.
How did they move the stones?
The methods by which the ancient builders transported and erected the massive stones of Stonehenge also remain a subject of fascination and debate among archaeologists and historians.
While the exact techniques used are not definitively known, several more theories have been proposed based on archaeological evidence, experimental archaeology, and ethnographic studies of traditional techniques.
One prevalent theory suggests that the builders used sledges and wooden rollers to transport the stones over land from their quarries to the Stonehenge site.
This method would have involved dragging the stones across the landscape using ropes and manpower.
Experimental archaeology has demonstrated that even large stones can be moved relatively easily using this method, particularly on smooth surfaces or lubricated tracks.
Today, Stonehenge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in England - and tickets can be booked online via the English Heritage website.
The ancient landmark is located in the Wiltshire countryside, about 90 miles from London.
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