EIS – Stonehenge

Stonehenge

On our next to the last day while in England, we visited Stonehenge. 

The Stonehenge landscape is a World Heritage Site (1986) and protected by the National Trust.  The Stonehenge monument is under management of the English Heritage.

The Stonehenge you see today built between 3000 and 4000 years ago from stones quarried in Ireland.  Also built in the fields around the monument are some 340 barrows mounds.

Seeing Stonehenge in person is beyond what I expected.  Looking at the stones in a picture does not give you the experience of “feeling” the presence.

The tallest structure is 22 feet tall (6.7 meters) and about 8 feet in the ground (2.4 meters).

The Heel Stone sits on the outer edge of the monument, about 256 feet from the “Slaughter Stone” in the center of the monument. 

During the Solstice sunrise, allegedly, the tip of the shadow of the heel stone rests on the center of the slaughter stone.  The slaughter stone gets its name from the red on the stone.

Supposedly, a ley-line crosses the center of Stonehenge. 

There are a number of barrow mounds around the fields surrounding Stonehenge which are the resting places for kings and others.

We had good weather to view Stonehenge and we could have stayed a while longer.  We are on the North side by the road that passes Stonehenge.

Stonehenge (northwest side) view shows spectators walking along the walkway (partly paved and partly grass way) built around the monument.

Across the street from where we were taking pictures of Stonehenge is an old milestone noting how far you are from London and Amesbury.  Well, we are leaving Stonehenge and begin our 80+ miles to London.