Stonehenge Stone Circle celebrates 100 years through online photo album.

To commemorate 100 years since being donated to the nation, the guardian of Stonehenge wants as many photos donated as possible to create a digital photo album, dating from 1918 - 2018.

Over the summer members of the public were asked to recreate their photos once taken decades ago at the stones, and today the ‘then and now’ images have also been revealed.

English Heritage’s Director of Stonehenge, Kate Davies said: “Stonehenge is an important place in many people’s memories, and each and every person who has visited the monument is part of its story. This archive is a way of making us all part of the on-going history of this incredible place.”

All the images will be displayed in an online archive on the Stonehenge 100 website.

Read the full story (source) here: 

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The grave of the Amesbury Archer found near Stonehenge is one of the most important discoveries in Europe.

The Amesbury Archer. Late Neolithic, 2400–2200BC

Found near Stonehenge, the burial is over 4000 years old. It is one of the earliest bell beaker graves in Britain. The archer was 35–45 years old when he died and placed in a wooden chamber beneath a low mound. His left kneecap was missing which would have caused him to have a bad limp. Isotope analyses of his teeth show that he grew up outside Britain, probably near the Alps

His grave contained an unusually large number and variety of objects. They include five beaker pots, 18 arrowheads, two bracers (archer’s wristguards), four boars’ tusks, 122 flint tools, three copper knives, a pair of gold hair ornaments, and a cushion stone. The gold and copper metal objects are currently the oldest found in Britain. 

Many of the other finds have strong continental links. Although he was buried with archery equipment the presence of the cushion stone suggests he was a metalworker.

Metalworking was a new skill and he may have brought this technique with him to Britain. This knowledge could have made him a powerful man explaining his wealthy burial. In continental Europe metalworkers’ burials were often very elaborate.

If you are visting Stonehenge make sure you take time to visit nearby Salisbury Museum

Guided tours of Stonehenge and Salisbury can be booked here

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Major improvements for group visitors at Stonehenge

English Heritage has opened a newly-designed permanent coach park at Stonehenge.

It marks the completion of the first phase of a major improvement project aimed at giving tour groups arriving by coach a better and more streamlined welcome to the World Heritage Site and at easing pressure points for all visitors at the popular site at peak times.

The re-designed coach park provides spaces for 52 60-seater coaches in an upgraded layout which makes coach arrivals and departures more efficient and enhances pedestrian safety.

A new Visitor Transit Shuttle pick up point now allows groups to go directly from the coach park to the Stone Circle, where an enlarged drop off/pick up layout has also been created.

The new system makes the shuttle service more fluid and flexible so that it can provide more visitor journeys at times of peak pressure if required.

Phase two of the improvement project is scheduled for completion by late summer.

It will see the opening of a new group reception building, complete with extensive WC facilities, located conveniently close to the coach parking bays and next to the shuttle pick up point.

The improvements are already making arrivals, parking and departures easier and the movement of pedestrians safer within the coach park.

The addition of the Group Reception Building in the summer will simplify and speed up ticketing and audio guide collection and provide double the number of WCs currently on site.

Jennifer Davies, Stonehenge general manager said: “We are delighted to have opened the first phase with minimal impact to group arrivals while the work was underway.

“The improvement project was implemented following an extensive review of our operation at Stonehenge and feedback from tourism professionals to find the best way to meet demand and ease congestion at this significant and busy attraction.

“Once complete, the improvements will help us deliver a world class experience for the 1.3 million visitors we welcome each year from across the globe, so that they can more fully appreciate this ancient wonder of human endeavour.”    
Article source: Travel News

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UK Votes Stonehenge as the World's Must-See Destination in Intel's Seven Visual Wonders of the World Poll

Stonehenge Rocks Travellers' Socks to Land Top Spot

From the ancient and mysterious to the grandiose and awe inspiring, voters in Intel's Visual Wonders of the World poll[1] have chosen the world's most visually stunning locations. The poll formed part of Intel's campaign to find out what matters most to the UK in their Visual Life.

 

The top seven must-see locations, in the order of ranking, as chosen by voters from all over the UK are:

1. Stonehenge, England
2. Rome, Italy
3. Chatsworth House, England
4. Cape Town, South Africa
5. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
6. Sahara, North Africa
7. Aurora Borealis, Sweden
8. New York City, USA
9. Gower Peninsula, Wales
10. Machu Picchu, Peru

 

The poll also showed how patriotic we are in the UK, selecting two UK locations within our top three. This was mirrored by the likes of the US, who voted for the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate Bridge, Germany, who opted for Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Netherlands, whose Canals in Amsterdam topped both their country poll and the votes across Europe.

 

Natural beauty

 

The Visual Wonders poll also captured how male and female voters cast their favourites. Both men and women voted for Stonehenge as the must-see location in the UK, whereas mostly women voters opted for the romance and atmosphere of Rome, while mainly men chose the history and scenery of Chatsworth House.

 

The poll also had five categories: ancient, man-made, natural, religious and urban and interestingly the results show that the UK as a whole prefers natural beauty over the draw of urban life.

 

Partnering with Intel to create the Visual Wonders poll, travel deal experts Travelzoo confirmed the significance of aesthetic attraction for travellers and holiday makers. "What's really interesting in Intel's poll is the UK's thirst to discover the landmarks of history that are near to them, and in some cases right on their doorstep," said Joel Brandon-Bravo, managing director of Travelzoo in the UK. "The perfect getaway is no longer solely about the faraway beach; the rise of staycationing appears to have reignited our passion for the UK in recent years."

 

"Intel's Visual Wonders of the World poll has shown the passion that the UK has for our own visual landmarks", says Gail Hanlon, marketing director Intel UK. "As part of our Visual Life campaign this year, which encouraged using technology to get the best out of the great things that surround us every day, the enthusiasm for each of the top ten results proves how important technology can be in sharing everyday experiences."

 

The Winners

 

The mysterious structure of Stonehenge claimed top spot in the poll of must-see locations. This ancient creation is visited by thousands of people a year in the South of England and its popularity could be down to its imposing presence, or the shroud of mystery surrounding its purpose as 'experts' remain undecided as to whether it was used for human sacrifices or for charting the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars.

 

Rome, the city of 'romance' and ancient wonders came in at a close second place with the vast majority of UK female voters choosing its stunning architecture and romantic atmosphere as the reasons for choosing it as one of the world's most desirable locations.

 

Set in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, Chatsworth House landed third place in the poll. Construction of the first house at Chatsworth began in 1552 and the current site offers the captivating history of the house, scenic gardens as well as a farmyard and adventure playground, making it a consistently popular choice for men and women of the UK.

 

In fourth place was the sun-drenched city of beautiful people, Cape Town, in South Africa. A city famed for its near-perfect weather, Cape Town is a location surrounded by sea and mountains, including the legendary flat-topped Table Mountain.

Other top locations from across the world that proved the most popular among UK voters include the architectural brilliance of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the sweeping sands of the Sahara in North Africa.

 

The spectral beauty of Sweden's Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) were also in the top 10, alongside the vibrant buzz of New York City, USA; Gower Peninsula in Wales and the breathtaking views of Machu Picchu, Peru.

 

Survey Information

 

This survey was conducted in June/ July 2011 via Intel's Facebook pages. A total of 1,715 votes were cast globally: 67 in Germany, 237 in Hungary, 38 in Ireland, 130 in Italy, 246 in the Netherlands, 136 in Southern Africa, 133 in UAE, 99 in the US, 365 in UK and 264 in the rest of the world

 

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