Thursday 22 December 2016

English Heritage's Legal Covenant for the A344 Permissive Path

I have a copy of the 106 and Highways Agreement between Wiltshire Council and HBMCE (English Heritage) and others for the planning permission for the New Visitor Centre near Stonehenge.

I reproduce Paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 of Part 2 as it relates to the ongoing failure by English Heritage to provide a permissive path on the route of the old A344


Dated 23 JUNE 2010

WILTSHIRE COUNCIL (1 )
and
HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND  (2)
and
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT (3)
and
ROBERT LIONEL TURNER (4)
and
THE HONOURABLE FINN BENJAMIN GUINNESS
THE HONOURABLE ERSKINE STUART RICHARD GUINNESS
THE HONOURABLE CATRIONA ROSE GUINNESS (5)
and
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR
NATURAL BEAUTY (6)
and
NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC (7)

Agreement under Section 106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990
and
Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980

relating to-

THE STONEHENGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
STONEHENGE WORLD HERITAGE SITE, WILTSHIRE


PART 2 HIGHWAYS OBLIGATIONS AND ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION AND HIGHWAYS ORDERS


SCHEDULE 3
Other Obligations

9 The National Trust and the Secretary of State as owners of the land
fronting that part of the A344 between its junction with Byway 12 and
the A303 to be stopped up and English Heritage covenant that as
from the date of such stopping up that part of the A344 may be used
at all times by cyclists and pedestrians until such time as an
alternative cycle route is available and has been provided in
accordance with a scheme which shall first have been approved by
the local planning authority in consultation with the local highway
authority and the Highways Agency

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Stonehenge: Winter Solstice Alignments Explained by Tim Daw Video

From Hugh Newman and MegalithomaniaUK comes this video



link - https://youtu.be/87zzgi5VCrY



Published on Dec 21, 2016
Subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/MegalithomaniaUK
In this new video researcher Tim Daw gets interviewed by the BBC and talks to Hugh Newman at Stonehenge about the Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset alignments, that are often overlooked due to the popularity of the Summer Solstice. He explains the significance and archaeological evidence for these astronomical achievements and how the ancients encoded it in to the monument, as well as giving an insight as to the use of the Bush Barrow Lozenge discovered nearby. Tim's websites: http://www.sarsen.org/ and http://thelongbarrow.com/

Join Hugh, with researcher Simon Banton on a private tour to Stonehenge on May 19th 2017. Details here: http://www.megalithomania.co.uk/booki...

Filmed, Produced, and Directed by Hugh Newman. Copyright Hugh Newman/Megalithomania 2016. All Rights Reserved.

See more Megalithomania videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/MegalithomaniaUK

More info:
http://www.megalithomania.co.uk
http://www.hughnewman.co.uk

State of the A344 Path Winter Solstice 2016


"I visited site on Tuesday 1st November and had a look at the closed section of the former A344 to see how the reseeded grass areas were establishing.

While they are coming along well and thickening up, I would be very reluctant to allow pedestrian traffic onto them yet which would soon create bare worn tracks through the thin growth and almost certainly develop muddy patches as we come into Winter.

The former roadway was seeded with a natural chalk wildflower seed mix to allow it to blend into the wider landscape. Unfortunately, this takes a longer time to establish than a general lawn grass seed and is less wear tolerant since it contains a lower proportion of grass and a high proportion of the slower and weaker growing wildflower seed. This needs extra time to
develop stronger root systems and grow into larger, sustainable plants.

I would recommend that the road has another season’s growth without any pedestrian traffic to allow the wildflowers to establish further and to enable the grass to spread into and fill up the bare patches that are still present.

Once the permissive path is opened up, I am concerned about the amount of wear that the wildflower grass areas will be able to take if there is heavy use especially from bicycles which can cause compaction very quickly, particularly in wet conditions. There is a risk that the successful return of the road to grass will then wear away to become a clear worn track if use is heavy"

Report by English Heritage to Wiltshire Council

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Usability of the A344 Permissive Path Cover-up

Wiltshire Council are not pursuing English Heritage for failing to deliver a useable path on the route of the A344 by the summer of 2016 as the planning permission for the New Visitor Centre requires because the Council have been informed by English Heritage that the grass is still not fit for purpose.

I have been digging into this with some FOI requests and other sources of information because as a farmer and agronomist who has restored and created chalk downland, not least on my Long Barrow, I understand the problems and find it incredible that with the resources of English Heritage they have failed to do so, especially when a cursory inspection suggests the surface is fit for use and any problems could be dealt with fencing around any muddy patches that appear.

My FOI request is online - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/report_on_the_usability_of_the_s


Wiltshire Council claim that "EH have had an independent ecologist/botanist inspect the site and his opinion is that it would benefit from a further growing season to establish a better root system, to make it more resilient to trampling" - Full document - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/375989/response/912155/attach/3/Landscape%20ecology%20response%20ENQ05973%20REQ003.pdf

The independent ecologist/botanist report is also online - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/375989/response/912155/attach/4/Report%20from%20English%20Heritage%20ENQ05973%20REQ003.pdf -

It is noticeable that it is not signed, there is no indication as to who wrote it or what their qualifications are, or how independent they are. I have never seen an expert's report before that has no indication of who the expert is or their qualifications.

The Freedom of Information request doesn't tell you but I happen to know it was written by Chris Bally in an email to Kate Davies (English Heritage's Stonehenge Manager) on the 4th November 2016

Chris is the loveliest bloke alive and knows his stuff but he is the Landscape Manager for the Conservation Maintenance Team of English Heritage. He works full time for English Heritage. I doubt he would describe himself as an independent ecologist/botanist.

For Wiltshire Council to portray his report as being from an "independent ecologist/botanist" and hide the author's credentials as they use it to justify their inaction looks like a cover-up to me.

If a householder failed to deliver on a planning condition and then got his mum to write a note saying he's a good boy really and he will sort it out next year would Wiltshire Planners accept that as an excuse?

Saturday 17 December 2016

Laying out the 56 Aubrey Holes

Anthony Johnson has kindly made his and Alberto Pimpinelli's paper on laying out a 56 sided polygon using just pegs and ropes available on Academia.org. Of course this isa proposed solution to the the laying out of the Aubrey Holes.

https://www.academia.edu/3106076/Johnson_A_and_Pimpinelli_A._Pegs_and_Ropes_Geometry_at_Stonehenge

"A recent computer-aided-design investigation of the Neolithic 56 Aubrey Hole circuit at Stonehenge has led to the discovery of an astonishingly simple geometrical construction for drawing an approximately regular 56-sided polygon, feasible with a compass and straightedge. In the present work, we prove analytically that the aforementioned construction yields as a byproduct, an extremely accurate method for approximating a regular heptagon, and we quantify the accuracy that prehistoric surveyors may have ideally attained using simple pegs and ropes. We compare this method with previous approximations, and argue that it is likely to be at the same time the simplest and most accurate. Implications of our findings are discussed."



They even bring in Plutarch's Moralia. Isis and Osiris "It is plain that the adherents of Pythagoras hold Typhon to be a daemonic power; for they say that he was born in an even factor of fifty-six; and the dominion of the triangle belongs to Hades, Dionysus, and Ares, that of the quadrilateral to Rhea, AphroditĂȘ, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera, that of the dodecagon to Zeus,c and that of a polygon of fifty-six sides to Typhon, as Eudoxus has recorded."

Friday 9 December 2016

Stonehenge - What does "Henge" mean, why is it a "Henge"?


Looking across from Stonehenge towards Luxenborough plantation, the block of trees on the right, I was reminded that on the Downs of southern England, and maybe elsewhere, such blocks of woodland on the edges and slopes are known as "Hangers" or "Hangings" from the Anglo-Saxon "Hangra": A wood on a hill-side.

In my opinion Stonehenge gets its name from being a Stone "Hanger" as it sits on the edge of a slope, It is as simple as that. And from "Hanger" we get "Henge" and a whole pottage of word derivations.

From the Google Street view car one can rotate the camera and see the similarity in outline between the wood and stone "Hangers".



View Larger Map

Examples of other local Hanger Woods:





The Archaeology of the Stonehenge Festivals

British Archaeology Magazine (Jan-Feb 2017) contains an impassioned plea to remember the Stonehenge Free Festivals and concludes: "The festival is now fading history, with the very road and car park that made it possible removed.... We are in danger of forgetting. Perhaps there should be an inquiry. As useful, and much cheaper, would be a full archaeological research programme, on the ground, in the archives, and most importantly through talking to people who were there, from every part of the rich and confusing mix. Freedoms, rights and open reporting were compromised at Stonehenge in the 1980s. We need to know what really happened: to hold authority to account and to honour the place."

Click to embiggen

The genteel walkers across the National Trust fields seem to follow the Hippy trails of the festivals. (Though some of them may well be the same people.)

I have a copy of Alternative England and Wales from 1975 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMSOq9ZTRj8 for a guided tour of its contents) and Stonehenge isn't mentioned, and the guidebooks all are of Avebury and Stonehenge.

Much of the present iconic status of the monument can be traced back to the Festivals and not only should there be a proper research project into them but they would also make a fantastic exhibition subject.

Mike Pitts has written about the festivals here - https://mikepitts.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/where-was-the-stonehenge-festival/

Thursday 1 December 2016

Ronald Hutton's Prize Winning Contribution to the New Visitor Centre near Stonehenge



Ronald Hutton - Stonehenge from Yoho Media on Vimeo.


1 December 2016

The winners of this year’s Bristol University Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Awards, which showcase the diverse and important contributions that Bristol research makes to society, were announced at the Strategy Launch on 29 November.

The Society and Culture category award was presented to Professor Ronald Hutton for his project ‘The Stonehenge Visitor Centre’. Professor Hutton was appointed Academic Adviser for the construction of the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, a brand-new building intended to promote visitor understanding of, and satisfaction in, the monument. As a result of his research and his role at the Centre, English Heritage installed a permanent display gallery there.

The 2016 overall winner was Professor Ronald Hutton for his contribution to the Stonehenge Visitor Centre. Professor Hutton received the trophy and a cheque for £1,500.

Stonehenge Avenue Ruts

Mike Pitts raise some of the questions about the lines we can see on the ground, under it by excavation and through remote sensing within the Avenue at Stonehenge:

https://mikepitts.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/cold-stones/


"....The Stonehenge Riverside project excavated grooves that run.. in the soil, and interpreted them as natural periglacial structures left over from the ice age, that – because they are aligned on the solstice axis – were partly responsible for where Stonehenge is: neolithic people saw the grooves pointing at the rising midsummer sun and thought, this is where we want to build Stonehenge!
Meanwhile, Tim Darvill and colleagues think the grooves are relatively modern wheel ruts. Their respective evidence is summarised in this diagram. Area 8 (enlarged at left) is a geophysics plot showing lines within the Avenue but not quite parallel to the ditches; these, say Darvill et al, are wheel ruts...."




I'm with Mike - I don't think there is a complete and clear picture of what the features are and how they relate. Yes there are periglacial stripes and the banks are probably enhanced natural banks and there are other ruts within the structure, what age are they? Are they simple farm cart ruts or evidence of processions or even stone movement? What is the history of the Palisade line that runs close by?

In support of the cart rut idea is the evidence of them continuing in a straightish line beyond where the Avenue bends as can be seen in the Magnetometer data (2010–11): white = −2nT, black = +3nT. (Aerial photograph: DigitalGlobe.) from The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project



Friday 25 November 2016

The Stonehenge Barrow Map

Wonderful work by Simon Banton.

http://web.org.uk/barrowmap/


In 1812, Sir Richard Colt Hoare (henceforth RCH) published "The Ancient History of Wiltshire, Vol. 1" - a magnificent work (one of a pair - volume 2 followed later) which detailed the work he sponsored and William Cunnington supervised in the years before and after the turn of the 19th century.

Aided by Stephen and John Parker, this ensemble excavated many hundreds of burial mounds across Wiltshire. It was one of the earliest attempts at scientific archaeological recording as opposed to simple treasure hunting. Many of the finds ultimately ended up in Wiltshire Museum and the descriptions of the barrows' excavations are a valuable resource.

There is a map in Ancient Wiltshire labelled "Stonehenge and its Environs", drawn by Philip Crocker, that depicts the landscape around the monument together with the barrows that had been investigated and numbered by RCH during this work. RCH also grouped the barrows into several areas in his "Stations" and "Itineraries" in the text, but not totally consistently in all cases.
These days, we don't use RCH's barrow numbers.

Instead there are several different standards such as the Goddard/Grinsell Parish Numbers (eg Amesbury G15), the National Monuments Record Number (eg SU 14 SW 104), the Historic England Monument Number (eg 219732) or the Wiltshire & Swindon Historic Environment Record Number (eg MWI12998 SU14SW835).

All of the above refer to the same barrow - one called "Sun Barrow" - which is RCH's barrow number 164 in his Amesbury grouping.

It can be a real challenge to correlate information that uses one system with other information that uses a different system. What's more, there isn't (or wasn't) anything online that allowed you to find a barrow via any of these systems and see the reference numbers (and links to) the other systems alongside.

That sort of thing tends to frustrate so Simon Banton created a Google Map backed by a Google Spreadsheet and set about matching up the data into a single reference work for the barrows shown on RCH's famous map.

There is a downloadable spreadsheet of the GoogleDoc data compilation so other people can play with / archive it. Just in case Google should ever go belly up, it'd be a shame if it held the only copy!
It's linked to in the copyright notice at the bottom left of the map's left column

Thursday 24 November 2016

Stone 53 Carvings 3D Model from Wessex Archeaology



The Bronze Age axehead carvings on Stone 53 at Stonehenge were first identified by Richard Atkinson in 1953. During 2002 to 2003, Stone 53 along with two other carved sarsen stones were 3D laser scanned in a ground-breaking project that explored the potential of this emerging technology. Wessex Archaeology worked with Archaeoptics Ltd of Glasgow using a Minolta VI-900 scanner. The stone surfaces were sampled at a sub-millimetre resolution and meshes generated from the point cloud data. The mesh of Stone 53 featured here had at the time importantly revealed details of the carvings that had not been seen before. Best viewed in Madcap rendering mode.
Visit http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/services/geomatics/case-studies/stonehenge-rock-art

Saturday 19 November 2016

Celebrating 30 Years as a WHS


Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites' inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this exhibition has brought together a range of artefacts, objects and art which reflect our understanding of and relationship to the Sites over time. Whether through archaeology or artistic interpretation, a connection to and curiosity about Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites has remained, anchoring the Site into the hearts and minds of people worldwide.

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/u/0/exhibit/BQKCBomJgNWHIA







Connected sites

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/entity/%2Fm%2F06wfg

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/u/0/partner/stonehenge-and-avebury-world-heritage-site

Thursday 17 November 2016

Planning Problems at Stonehenge - Summary

Immediate problem: English Heritage’s contractors are busy cutting down trees and moving dirt about to create a new coach park and transit system turning circle. Various posts on this blog have highlighted the various planning problems at Stonehenge but this is an attempt to summarise them into one post.

The planning permission for this is: Wiltshire Council Planning application 16/03988/FUL http://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/Search/DSA,863043

The decision  http://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/File/MTYvMDM5ODgvRlVMLDc0Njk5NA==  has conditions 3- 11 which all start “No development shall commence” or similar – I have concentrated on Condition 4 : ‘Notwithstanding the submitted drawings showing the proposals for directing pedestrian arrivals in the vicinity of the A344 junction with Byway 12, prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority demonstrating how pedestrians using the signed and lined route on the southern side of the A344 can access the Stones without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12. The approved details shall be implemented before the proposed bus turning arrangements are brought into effect.”

There is a discharge of conditions document on the website  http://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/File/MTYvMDM5ODgvRlVMLDgwMzkxMA==  which shows that Condition 4 plans are “to follow” and I have it confirmed from the council that they haven’t yet been agreed.

The plan that English Heritage want agreed is outlined in the plans below and the text at http://www.sarsen.org/2016/11/stonehenge-vehicle-and-pedestrian.html and it states: “As a result of this layout people visiting the stones on foot along the A344 will cross Byway 12 and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle east of Byway 12 to access the monument field (see Appendix A). This is because there is not enough space on the southern VTS platform area to accommodate the loading of passengers on the bus and walkers coming from the west. Visitors wishing to walk back to the Visitor Centre will walk along the southern platform and then cross Byway 12 onto the A344 designated pedestrian route.”

The key point here is that the proposed plan has visitors walking across the entrance to the bus turning circle when the requirement of Condition 4 is that is that they don’t have to walk within the route of the visitor transit system (the buses) . The council don’t want tourists and buses to mix for obvious reasons. As an aside it would a simple matter for English Heritage to fulfil the requirement in their revised plans, all they have to do is not move the southerly fence, not remove the temporary footpath that is already there and not close off the gate that is also there.




Click plans to enlarge


The background of why English Heritage want to complicate the route walking visitors have to take lies in previous decisions - The Landscape Management Plan approved under condition 13 of planning permission S/2009/1527/FUL anticipated reinstatement of the permissive path between along the section of the former A344 between Byway 12 and the A303 at Stonehenge Bottom in ‘Summer 2016’. – Unfortunately since 2009 English Heritage have increased the area they charge people to visit at Stonehenge and it now includes the former A344 so they are reluctant to allow it to be used as a permissive path. They have applied for a years extension until October 2017 as the grass isn’t “ready” yet. This has not been agreed to yet by the council who have had an expert look at the grass and a report produced (I haven’t seen it yet).

The decision for the coach park planning 16/03988/FUL as an informative adds; ” Wiltshire Council own the row of Beech trees shown on plan 1515/242 Rev P13 (located between the A344 and the coach park/VTS turning loop). These trees help to screen the coach parking and are therefore important landscape features. Any tree works other than those shown on plan 1515/242 Rev P13 will require further consent from Wiltshire Council.

It seems the contractors have cut down many more trees than in the plan. The planning application 16/03988/FUL details one short 7.5m gap to be cut through the belt of trees that Wiltshire Council owns at the site.

I have done a quick overlay of a photograph and a scale on to the plan.



Click to enlarge


So we have a development started when conditions that have to be agreed pre-commencement haven’t been agreed.
We have a proposed condition discharge which is in direct contradiction to the wishes of the committee
We have a failure to discharge a condition from a previous planning application
And we have trees that belong to the council being felled without permission.

All of this within a World Heritage Site and highly protected landscape.

There are other similar breaches but these are enough for now.

Sunday 13 November 2016

What is Going On? Tree Cutting at the New Visitor Centre near Stonehenge

English Heritage are busy cutting down trees at the New Visitor Centre near Stonehenge in preparation for their revised Transit System.

The approved plans show that they need to cut one gap in the existing belt of trees between the present access to the coach park and the eastern end of the belt.

It looks as though they have cut two gaps and neither of them match the plans.

Does anyone know what is going on?


Click to enlarge - I have overlain the plans with a scale and a photo showing the two gaps taken today - with perspective the match isn't exact but is fairly close.

or look under  http://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/Search/DSA,863043 for proposed coach park.

English Heritage Plans to Block Historic Path at Stonehenge

English Heritage have failed to open the permissive path they are obliged to provide on the route of the old A344, which should have been done by summer 2016. They claim the grass surface won't be ready until 2017. It is no secret they wish they didn't have to provide this path despite it being an important historic route which will boost the sustainability and local access of the site.



The latest impediment to the permissive path is hidden away in a document where they are asking Wiltshire Council to approve a variation in how the Visitor Transit System works at the monument.

One small detail is they want to move a barbed wire and netting stock fence 3m from the field edge onto the route of the A344. Of course normally barbed wire fences are not erected alongside where people are queuing in large numbers so there is no practical reason to do so. Leaving the fence where it is and using crowd barriers is more sensible if they want to corral the visitors.

But if they do erect the barbed wire fence there then, as they point out, there is no room for pedestrians to walk along the route of the A344.





Click plans to enlarge


Quote from the planning document:

As a result of this layout people visiting the stones on foot along the A344 will cross Byway 12 and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle east of Byway 12 to access the monument field (see Appendix A).  This is because there is not enough space on the southern VTS platform area to accommodate the loading of passengers on the bus and walkers coming from the west.  Visitors wishing to walk back to the Visitor Centre will walk along the southern platform and then cross Byway 12 onto the A344 designated pedestrian route.


Planning Condition these revised plans are designed to meet:

Planning Condition 4 states: 
‘Notwithstanding the submitted drawings showing the proposals for directing pedestrian arrivals in the vicinity of the A344 junction with Byway 12, prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority demonstrating how pedestrians using the signed and lined route on the southern side of the A344 can access the Stones without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12. The approved details shall be implemented before the proposed bus turning arrangements are brought into effect.  

Note the requirement is that visitors should not have to walk within the route and yet the plans require them to do so  purely because the fence move makes the path too narrow. If the fence isn't moved then there is no problem and the planning condition could be met.

The only logical purpose of the fence move is therefore to prevent the permissive path being established. Wiltshire Council must not fail in their duty and approve these plans.

The suggestion the fenced off area is to allow the establishment of "swathes of meadow planting helps enhance the naturalistic feel of the space whilst helping integrate the facilities into the natural landscape." doesn't make sense as the area will be in a sheep field and English Heritage have shown us with the rest of the A344 it takes many years to establish such grass and it mustn't be trodden on during the establishment phase. A temporary barrier and leaving the stock fence where it is  would be more suited for grass establishment.

To comment by email click  Wiltshire Council

STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN

STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN October 2016


CONTENTS
1. OUTLINE ...................................................................................................................................
2. INTRODUCTION TO THE STONEHENGE VISITOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (SVEP) .
3. AIMS OF THE SVEP PROJECT ...................................................................................................
4. BACKGROUND .........................................................................................................................
5. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: COACH & MOTORHOME PARKING
5.1 COACH PARKING ......................................................................................................................
5.2 SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES USING THE COACH PARK
5.3 MOTORHOME PARKING ..........................................................................................................
5.4 SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES USING THE MOTORHOME PARK .
6. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: VISITOR TRANSPORT
6.1 VISITOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM .
7. SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE VISITOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM .
8. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: A344 PEDESTRIANS & VEHICLES
8.1 PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON THE A344 .
8.1.1 New Monument VTS Platform Arrangements ......................................................................
8.1.2 Safety Measures to ensure safe movement of pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians on their way to the stones ..................................................................................................................
8.1.3 Safety Measures on the road .................................................................................
8.1.4 Safe System of Work for drivers on the A344 ......................................................
9. CYCLISTS..................................................................................................................

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE STONEHENGE VISITOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (SVEP)
2.1 Stonehenge is a ‘must see’ top 10 paid attractions in the UK.  Alongside Salisbury Cathedral, it is a key reason for why people visit Wiltshire.
2.2 In 2015/16, Stonehenge welcomed 1.34 million visitors which is considerably more than the almost 1 million (942,000) visitors originally projected in the 2009 planning application for the Stonehenge Environmental Improvement Project (SEIP).  The SEIP transformed the landscape setting of Stonehenge, created a new visitor experience and provided world class visitor facilities.  At the time that the plans for the new visitor centre was being developed visitor numbers were 800,000.
2.3 Visitor number projections are adjusted every year (taking into account performance, economy and tourism trends).  We currently project that visitor numbers will remain broadly around 1.3-1.4 million over the next few years.
2.4 Stonehenge continues to be a very popular destination for coach tours.  Approximately 60% of visitors now travel to Stonehenge as part of a group.  This increase in visitors arriving by coach is good news for the Wiltshire economy and contributes to our Travel Plan’s targets for minimising travel to Stonehenge by private car.  However, it has created a number of challenges for the operation of the coach park and visitor transit system, particularly in relation to capacity and pedestrian movement.
2.5 The Stonehenge Visitor Enhancement Project was created following the first year of operating the new visitor centre. Experience of running the new operation identified areas that needed further enhancement to ensure we safely and efficiently welcome visitors particularly at peak times, and firmly establish Stonehenge as a world class visitor attraction and must-see destination for visitors to the UK and Wiltshire.
3. AIMS OF THE SVEP PROJECT
3.1 To ensure that visitors coming to Stonehenge enjoy a seamless world-class visitor experience, providing the highest standards of customer care.
3.2 To address the operational challenges of the current infrastructure of the new visitor centre.


4. BACKGROUND
4.1 Coach park facilities - operational challenges
4.1.1 Our policy is that all coaches must book in advance into a time slot and we robustly manage this.  During peak periods, only those that have pre-booked are permitted to park on site.  Un-booked coaches are declined entry.
4.1.2 Prior to the temporary expansion of the coach park, drivers often ignored our instructions and unloaded their passengers before either ‘double-parking’ on limited pavements within the site, or ‘fly-parking’ in local laybys.  Pre-booked coaches who arrived outside of their hour-long arrival window were also asked to return in their booked time slot.  All of these issues were increasing the number of journeys coaches made within the local area.
4.1.3 The layout of the coach park also presented opportunities pedestrian conflicts with coaches, particularly at peak times.  These issues were flagged by tour operators, who considered the original drop-off arrangements, walkways and signage provision to be inadequate for the large numbers of group visitors using the site.  In addition, the existing coach bays are considered by international tour operators to be inadequate for accommodating their larger coaches.
4.1.4 The temporary expansion of the coach park has made considerable improvements.  The need for toilets in the coach park to ensure that passengers are catered for upon immediate arrival has also been identified by tour operators, particularly at peak times when queues for the main toilets are a significant issue.
4.2 Visitor transit system - operational challenges
4.2.1 In recognition of the land trains struggling to cope with the operational demands of the new visitor experience at Stonehenge, buses were introduced to supplement the land train service.
4.2.2 Through this experience and innovation, buses have been proven to be a more effective method of transportation for visitors.  A review of the future use of land trains at Stonehenge concluded that a bus-only solution to the transport of visitors to and from the Stonehenge Monument would better meet the needs of visitors and the operation. The SVEP seeks to provide appropriate turning and platform waiting areas for visitors.
4.3 Conclusion: significant public benefits through improved visitor experience


1. OUTLINE
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
This document will address Wiltshire Council Planning Conditions 4 and 6 of Planning Permission Ref No. 16/03988/FUL Dated 25/07/2016 regarding the safe use of the A344 by pedestrians; safe management of coach and motorhome parking areas; and safe operation of the Visitor Transport System (VTS).
Planning Condition 4 states:
‘Notwithstanding the submitted drawings showing the proposals for directing pedestrian arrivals in the vicinity of the A344 junction with Byway 12, prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority demonstrating how pedestrians using the signed and lined route on the southern side of the A344 can access the Stones without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12. The approved details shall be implemented before the proposed bus turning arrangements are brought into effect.
Reason: In the interests of highway and visitor pedestrian safety.'
The details are set out in section 8 of this plan.
Planning Condition 6 states:
Prior to the Visitor Transit System operations hereby approved coming into effect, a Coach/Motorhome Parking and Visitor Transit System Management Plan shall first have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Coach/Motorhome Park and the Visitor Transit System shall be operated at all times in accordance with the management plan so approved.
Reason: In order to ensure that the coach/motorhome parking areas are operated and managed in a manner consistent with the safe practices, and to ensure that pedestrian users of the A344 are not exposed to unnecessary risk resulting from its use by the Visitor Transit System.’
The plan has been prepared following discussions with:
 Wiltshire Council Highways Officer
 National Trust General Manager
 English Heritage Safety Manager


4.3.1 While both the new visitor centre and removal of the inadequate old visitor facilities at Stonehenge have been major successes, we acknowledge that the coach visitor facilities and visitor transit system have struggled to accommodate the higher than anticipated numbers of group visitors during peak periods.
4.3.2 By making the coach park expansion permanent, and providing enhanced facilities for visitors arriving by coach and improvements to the visitor transit system, the SVEP will help to ensure that all visitors coming to Stonehenge enjoy a seamless visitor experience and the highest standards of customer care.

5. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: COACH & MOTORHOME PARKING
5.1 COACH PARKING
5.1.1 The new coach park will provide coach parking for 53 coaches and a toilet block and reception office within the coach park to service customers arriving on coach/minibus as part of a group.
5.1.2 Coaches will enter the site from Airman’s Corner roundabout, down the A344, turning left into the coach park, passing the ancillary building and around the outside of the coach park in a clockwise direction before pulling up at one of 4 loading bays on the east side of the coach park.

5.1.3 Passengers will remain on board while the tour guide collects their tickets and audio guides.  The tour guide will then re-board the coach, brief the group on coach park safety and then allow them to alight onto the footpath.
5.1.4 The driver then moves the coach on to the first empty parking bay available by continuing to drive clockwise around the coach park.
5.1.5 There are 28 permanent coach spaces and 25 secondary spaces.  These secondary spaces will be allocated at peak times by the coach park marshal.
5.2 SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES USING THE COACH PARK
5.2.1 Pedestrian safety signage and 5mph speed limit signs have been placed around the coach park.
5.2.2 Where used, speed limit signs are placed on both sides of the roads as many of our coaches have come from Europe and are right hand drive.
5.2.3 A Safe System of Work is in place when using the coach park.  (See Appendix F).  An example of the instruction card used by our trained staff to explain the rules of the coach park to drivers and tour guides is included as Appendix H.
5.3 MOTORHOME PARKING
5.3.1 To the west of the new coach park is an area which will be designated as motorhome/campervan/RV parking.
5.3.2 On entering the Stonehenge Visitor Centre site from Airman’s Corner roundabout, signage will direct motorhome drivers to follow the same route as coaches, driving in front of the ancillary building.  However, before they enter the coach park proper they will reach the motorhome parking area.
5.3.3 Signage will advise the passengers from these vehicles to cross carefully from their parking space to the closest pavement and then follow the signs to the main Visitor Centre.
5.4 SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES USING THE MOTORHOME PARK
5.4.1 Pedestrian safety signage and 5mph speed limit signs have been placed around the motorhome park and the entrance it shares with the coach park.
5.4.2 Where used, speed limit signs are placed on both sides of the roads as many motorhomes have come from Europe and are right hand drive.


6. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: VISITOR TRANSPORT
6.1 VISITOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM (VTS)
6.1.1 Improvements to the VTS operation planned under this project:
 Designated loading platform for groups.
 Turning circle at the Visitor Centre to avoid buses reversing
 Widened turning at the monument to avoid buses reversing
6.1.2 The VTS will be used as follows :
Groups (excluding education groups using the Education Room or bag store at the Visitor Centre)
a. Alight at the unloading bays in the coach park.
b. Walk down the pedestrian path to the groups loading platform.
c. Board the bus(es) at groups platform.
d. Either alight at Fargo Woods and continue to the Stones on foot via the landscape, or remain on the bus to the Monument platform.



e. Alight from the bus on the north side of the turn circle and follow the pedestrian path into the monument field.  (Empty bus moves around the turning circle to collect its next passengers, see Appendix D)
f. After visiting the Stones, queue for the return bus on the south side of the turning circle.
g. On arrival at the Visitor Centre, the bus stops at the first platform position and the passengers disembark, entering the Visitor Centre through the shop.
h. The bus travels forwards empty and turns into the turning centre.  It can either collect the next passengers from the groups platform or drive around the turning circle to position 2 to collect individual visitors.
Individual visitors
a. Walk down the pedestrian path from the car park to the Visitor Centre
b. Either enjoy the Visitor Centre exhibition and facilities first, or join the queue for the VTS behind the North Pod.
c. Board the bus(es) at the Visitor Centre platform.
d. Either alight at Fargo Woods and continue to the Stones on foot via the landscape, or remain on the bus to the monument platform.
e. Alight from the bus on the north side of the turn circle and follow the pedestrian path into the Monument field.  (Empty bus moves around the turning circle to collect its next passengers, see Appendix D)
f. After visiting the Stones, queue for the return bus on the south side of the turning circle.
g. On arrival at the Visitor Centre, the bus stops at the first platform position and the passengers disembark, entering the Visitor Centre through the shop.
h. The bus travels forwards empty and turns into the turning centre.  It can either collect the next passengers from the groups platform or drive around the turning circle to position 2 to collect individual visitors. (See Appendix A)
Education groups using the Education Room or bag store at the Visitor Centre:
a. Alight at the unloading bays in the coach park.
b. Walk down the pedestrian path to the Visitor Centre
c. Access the Education facilities at the Visitor Centre.
d. Join the individuals queue behind the North Pod.
e. Board the bus(es) at the Visitor Centre platform.
f. Either alight at Fargo Woods and continue to the Stones on foot via the landscape, or remain on the bus to the Monument platform.
g. Alight from the bus on the north side of the turn circle and follow the pedestrian path into the monument field.  (Empty bus moves around the turning circle to collect its next passengers, (see Appendix D)
h. After visiting the Stones, queue for the return bus on the south side of the turning circle.
i. On arrival at the Visitor Centre, the bus stops at the first platform position and the passengers disembark, entering the Visitor Centre through the shop.
j. The bus travels forwards empty and turns into the turning centre.  It can either collect the next passengers from the groups platform or drive around the turning circle to position 2 to collect individual visitors.

7. SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE VISITOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM
7.1 All 3 VTS platforms will be staffed by trained Operations team members wearing high visibility vests and they and the bus drivers will operate a Safe System of Work (see Appendix G).
7.2 The modifications provided by this project will eliminate any need for the buses to reverse.
7.3 A robust fencing and queuing system will separate visitors waiting to board the buses from any moving vehicles.


8. STONEHENGE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT PLAN: A344 PEDESTRIANS & VEHICLES
8.1 PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON THE A344
8.1.1 New Monument VTS Platform Arrangements
8.1.1.1 The new monument VTS platform arrangements mean that upon arrival from the Visitor Centre, visitors will alight on the northern side of the platform and walk to the monument on the pavement (see Appendix D).  When the vehicle is empty it will move to the southern platform to load passengers wishing to go back to the Visitor Centre and these passengers will be queued on the southern pavement.  There will not be room to accommodate visitors travelling in different directions.
8.1.1.2 As a result of this layout people visiting the stones on foot along the A344 will cross Byway 12 and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle east of Byway 12 to access the monument field (see Appendix A).  This is because there is not enough space on the southern VTS platform area to accommodate the loading of passengers on the bus and walkers coming from the west.  Visitors wishing to walk back to the Visitor Centre will walk along the southern platform and then cross Byway 12 onto the A344 designated pedestrian route (see Appendix B).
8.1.1.3 Encouraging walkers to approach the monument field through the landscape (as indicated on the plan in Appendix A) is in line with the strategy for the World Heritage Site where visitors are encouraged to explore the landscape visiting significant landscape features including Fargo Wood and the Cursus Barrows. The National Trust and English Heritage have worked together to create a series of interpretation panels in the landscape to encourage this behaviour.
8.1.1.4 English Heritage would like to remove as many walkers as possible from the A344, at the earliest point, to encourage exploration of the landscape and remove the risk of pedestrians and vehicles mixing on the A344 altogether.
8.1.2 Safety Measures to ensure safe movement of pedestrians on their way to the stones
8.1.2.1 In order to manage the mix of visitors and pedestrians on the A344 English Heritage has worked in partnership with Wiltshire Council and National Trust to put in a series of measures to mitigate the risks.  See risk assessment in Appendix I.
8.1.2.2 Pre-Visit website information:
 Advice to walkers on the English Heritage website will emphasise the features of the surrounding landscape to encourage entry to the landscape at the earliest point.
 There will be links to the National Trust website with more information about Open Access Land
 Where the route via the A344 is described, a clear safety message will be given stating that walkers on the road will be sharing it with vehicles.
8.1.2.3 Orientation information:
 Upon arrival at the visitor centre all visitors receive an orientation leaflet outlining access points into the landscape and a safety warning regarding walking on the A344.  This is produced in 10 languages.
8.1.3 Safety Measures on the road
8.1.3.1 When possible, trained volunteers are on hand to explain to visitors how to access the landscape safely.
8.1.3.2 Upon leaving the visitor centre safety signage will be in place to warn visitors of the dangers on the road and how to cross the road.
8.1.3.3 If people choose to walk on the A344 there is a designated walkers route on the south side with pictograms on the road.
8.1.3.4 Safety signage will be introduced where appropriate on the pedestrian route and will be agreed by Wiltshire Council and the National Trust before installation.
8.1.3.5 The National Trust are reviewing signage at access points to the landscape to encourage walkers to explore the features of the landscape.  This will reduce the number of pedestrians on the road.
8.1.3.6 A full signage schedule and location map will be provided in conjunction with the National Trust at a later date.
8.1.3.7 When walkers reach the intersection where A344 meets Byway 12 they will be required to cross the Byway and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle  east of Byway 12 (see Appendix A).  Staff will be waiting on hand to greet them and check their admissions ticket, and to direct walkers safely towards the monument field via the pavement along the northern platform.  The tarmac surface of the new pedestrian crossing area will be clearly demarcated by a dark grey finish to contrast with the existing buff colour of the adjacent carriageway.
8.1.4 Safe System of Work for drivers on the A344
 TRO permit system is in place
 20 mph speed limit
 Drivers made aware of the presence of walkers, cyclists and equestrians on the road
8.1.4.1 For full details of the Safe System of Work, see Appendix E.
9. CYCLISTS
9.1 A rack for bicycles is in place on the left as cyclists enter the monument field.  This has been positioned for easy access by cyclists riding on the left hand side of the A344 following the standard highway code.
9.2 A sign will be placed by the bike rack directing cyclists leaving the monument field and heading towards the visitor centre on the left hand side of the A344 to walk their bike across the intersection where the A344 meets Byway 12 to avoid conflicts with pedestrian or bus movement

Appendices and plans removed for web publishing, full document is avaialable from Wiltshire Council,

Saturday 12 November 2016

Stonehenge, English Heritage Mock Wiltshire Council Planning Committee Over A344

Wiltshire Council demanded that English Heritage produce plans; demonstrating how pedestrians .. can access the Stones without having ... to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12.


English Heritage responded to Wiltshire Council by producing plans that show; When walkers reach the intersection where A344 meets Byway 12 they will be required to cross the Byway and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle  east of Byway 12


Click to enlarge

How having to cross the entrance of the turning circle fulfils the requirement that pedestrians dont have to walk within the route of the buses is not explained.

Planning permission for the work to improve the Visitor Transit System at Stonehenge depends on English Heritage meeting certain conditions before work commences.  The work has commenced.

Condition 4 is that a revised layout of the pedestrian access at the stones end of the transit system is agreed with Wiltshire Council. The original plans had pedestrians having to cross the A344 to the west of Byway 12.  This was unacceptable and the requirement is that pedestrians should have access without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12”,  but the revised plans show they will have to.

And the reason is there is not enough space on the southern VTS platform area to accommodate the loading of passengers on the bus and walkers coming from the west. 

And the reason there isnt room is because the plans are for the existing post and wire stock proof fence (to be) relocated 3m further north east to be located to rear of platform edge kerb. Of course if you narrow the path by 3m the space is restricted. All they have done is moved the unacceptable crossing point of the A344 a few yards eastwards. This does not meet the conditions.

There is also no mention in these plans, that I can see, of the permissive path that will continue down the  A344.

This revised plan should not be agreed to by Wiltshire Council.




Details from the planning documents below.

STONEHENGE VISITOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT COACH PARK APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF DETAILS RESERVED BY CONDITION (REF No: 16/03988/FUL Dated 25/07/2016)

Condition 4:
Notwithstanding the submitted drawings showing the proposals for directing pedestrian arrivals in the vicinity of the A344 junction with Byway 12, prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority demonstrating how pedestrians using the signed and lined route on the southern side of the A344 can access the Stones without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12. The approved details shall be implemented before the proposed bus turning arrangements are brought into effect. Reason: In the interests of highway and visitor pedestrian safety.


The revised plans are:




Click to enlarge



8.1 PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON THE A344

8.1.1 New Monument VTS Platform Arrangements

8.1.1.1 The new monument VTS platform arrangements mean that upon arrival from the Visitor Centre, visitors will alight on the northern side of the platform and walk to the monument on the pavement. When the vehicle is empty it will move to the southern platform to load passengers wishing to go back to the Visitor Centre and these passengers will be queued on the southern pavement. There will not be room to accommodate visitors travelling in different directions.

8.1.1.2 As a result of this layout people visiting the stones on foot along the A344 will cross Byway 12 and then cross the entrance to the bus turning circle east of Byway 12 to access the monument field . This is because there is not enough space on the southern VTS platform area to accommodate the loading of passengers on the bus and walkers coming from the west. Visitors wishing to walk back to the Visitor Centre will walk along the southern platform and then cross Byway 12 onto the A344 designated pedestrian route.

8.1.1.3 Encouraging walkers to approach the monument field through the landscape (as indicated on the plan) is in line with the strategy for the World Heritage Site where visitors are encouraged to explore the landscape visiting significant landscape features including Fargo Wood and the Cursus Barrows. The National Trust and English Heritage have worked together to create a series of interpretation panels in the landscape to encourage this behaviour.

8.1.1.4 English Heritage would like to remove as many walkers as possible from the A344, at the earliest point, to encourage exploration of the landscape and remove the risk of pedestrians and vehicles mixing on the A344 altogether. 


Tom Holland on the Stonehenge Tunnel Proposal

Missing Plans for the A344 Access

Planning application 16/03988/FUL for the new Coach park and related works at Stonehenge had several conditions applied.

They are detailed in on pages 46 onwards of the response document ; http://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/File/MTYvMDM5ODgvRlVMLDgwMzkxMA==


One of them is: Notwithstanding the submitted drawings showing the proposals for directing pedestrian arrivals in the vicinity of the A344 junction with Byway 12, prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved further details shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority demonstrating how pedestrians using the signed and lined route on the southern side of the A344 can access the Stones without having to cross the A344 or to walk within the route used by the Visitor Transit System to the east side of Byway 12. The approved details shall be implemented before the proposed bus turning arrangements are brought into effect.
Reason: In the interests of highway and visitor pedestrian safety


The development has commenced but the approved plans are not available on the website - the document above merely says they are "TO FOLLOW"

It would be useful to see the plans.


UPDATE: I now have the plans - more to follow...

Tuesday 8 November 2016

Stonehenge Permissive Path on the Route of the Old A344

I have been trying to get to the bottom of why this path is not yet open and Wiltshire Council have kindly answered my FOI request:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/usability_of_the_stonehenge_perm#incoming-892393

They have provided a lot of documentation but the highlights seem to be these emails:

From: Brown, David
Sent: 06 July 2015 14:37
To: Madge, Adam (Team Leader (South) Economic Development and Planning Wiltshire Council)
Subject: RE: Buses and footpath at Stonehenge
Hi Adam
.....
Reference point 2 and the permissive path, you are correct that this grassed path remains closed to the public and diversion remains in place. This is a very sensitive matter for us due to contractual issues with the main contractor for the SEIP project who has continued to fail to complete the work to sufficient standards in accordance with the approved plans and specification. English Heritage are reviewing the situation and will be agreeing this week how to take forward the remediation. 
Referring to the attached map:
1.Area F is largely complete but requires final cultivation and seeding.
2.Area A requires more extensive cultivation and seeding.
3.Area B & C has not been completed to specification, the soil is too sandy in parts and requires remediation to improve the soil quality, partial topsoil and seed.
4.Area D has failed and requires remediation in the form of additional topsoil and seed. 
English Heritage are deeply disappointed that our supplier has failed to complete these areas in good time and failed to deliver the work to specification. The most significant of these areas which has the greatest impact is area D which requires extensive remediation before we can open this area to the public.
I am seeking a programme for the works mentioned above that is anticipated September and October this year (2015) due to the nature of the work being the best times for landscape and seeding, however, the work particularly to area D will require establishment before the path can be opened up to the public or the grass will simply fail; it is currently unclear to me the time required for this establishment but I would estimate this being 1 full year. The condition allows the footpath diversion to be in place until October this year, can you advise whether this could be extended for 1 year to enable us to complete the path reinstatement correctly? 
Regards
David Brown
Senior National Project Manager
English Heritage


From: Dominic Watkins
Sent: 18 April 2016 18:19
To: Madge, Adam
Subject: SEIP Condition 13 - Permissive Path
Adam

The Landscape Management Plan approved under condition 13 of planning permission S/2009/1527/FUL anticipated reinstatement of the permissive path between along the section of the former A344 between Byway 12 and the A303 at Stonehenge Bottom in ‘Summer 2016’.
English Heritage's Stonehenge site landscape manager has been monitoring establishment of the chalk grassland along the former A344. It is considered that the grass surface of the re-instated permissive path would not be sufficiently established to enable its use from Summer 2016. The advice is that two further growing seasons are required in order to create an established sward. Reinstatement of the permissive path this Summer is highly likely to result in erosion of the establishing chalk grassland.
For these reasons, English Heritage wishes to formally request an extension of time to October 2017 for reinstatement of the permissive path to allow the re-vegetated section of the A344 to fully establish.
Please can you advise if you require any further information to determine this request.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Dominic
Dominic Watkins
Director
CHRIS BLANDFORD ASSOCIATES


To: Madge, Adam
Cc: Porter, Louise; Parker, Barbara;
Subject: RE: SEIP Condition 13 - Permissive Path
Date: 25 July 2016 11:19:12
Attachments:
Adam
On behalf of English Heritage, please find attached a formal request for a change to the Landscape Management Plan approved under Condition 13 in respect to an extension of time for reinstatement of the permissive path along the A344.
With regards to the requested section 73 application to vary Condition 27, please could you suggest some wording as to how the condition is to be varied. Once we have agreed the wording, I will arrange for the application form and £195.00 fee to be submitted as soon as possible.
Regards
Dominic
Dominic Watkins
Director
CHRIS BLANDFORD ASSOCIATES

It is an historic route and should not be allowed to be forgotten:







Sunday 6 November 2016

The number 56 may not be arbitrary...

Seahenge:



"There were 55 large oak posts within the circumference of the circle and one smaller upright timber. The timbers were set side by side in an elliptical circumference around an inverted oak tree.
Upon excavation timbers 35 and 37 were found to be the two forked branches of one trunk or branch."

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society VOLUME 69, 2003
The Survey and Excavation of a Bronze Age Timber Circle at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, 1998–9 by Mark Brennand & Maisie Taylor

Stonehenge:


"There have been many proposed explanations for why the number of Aubrey Holes at Stonehenge is 56. Perhaps the most intriguing of these explanations, certainly at one time the most controversial, were the proposals that the Holes were used as counters for predicting lunar eclipses by keeping track of the passage of years (Hawkins 1965) or the passage of certain intervals of days (Hoyle 1977). It also has been suggested that the Aubrey Holes, again used as counters for various time intervals, could predict coincidences between the setting points of the midsummer sun and the new moon (Newton & Jenkins 1972) and even foretell amplitudes of tides on the English Channel and the North Sea (Beach 1977). While interesting, these primarily astronomically-based speculations seem somewhat contrived and ad hoc from a latter-day perspective. In fact, the implication that there was a practical significance to the number 56 and that the Aubrey Holes had an astronomical use is generally not now favoured. Rather, it is supposed that they basically served a ritualistic, ceremonial purpose and that there is nothing otherwise significant about the number of Holes (cf. Atkinson 1956, Burl 1981, Heggie 1981). Despite this current consensus, there is reason, besides the symmetrical layout of the Holes, to suspect that the number 56 at Stonehenge may not arbitrary."


THE AUBREY HOLES REVISITED C.T.Daub Department of Astronomy, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-0540, USA 1993
Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.34:4/DEC, P. 563, 1993



The coincidence of there being 56 outer timbers at Seahenge was pointed out to me on my visit to see the fantastic exhibition of it at King's Lynn where I was generously shown round by Francis Pryor.

Wednesday 2 November 2016

Stonehenge 3D Model by Aerial-cam





Stonehenge, the stone circle only in a basic/rapid 3D model generated from photographs already in the Aerial-Cam archive. Textured.
For viewing the 3D model use a mouse with a wheel to zoom, left click and hold to rotate and right click to move. Try rotating the model in full screen mode and switch rendering option to Matcap or wireframe (bottom right). A good Internet connection is required along with a compatible Browser such as Google Chrome.

Saturday 29 October 2016

On the Absence of Sarsens in the Stonehenge Landscape


It has been mooted that some of the sarsens at Stonehenge were found in the immediate landscape and that solution hollows in the chalk indicate where they were. It seems likely that the Heelstone was and that it is erected in its hollow, but there is no evidence for where any of the other sarsens in the monument came from. There are a few other larger stones such as the Cuckoo stone in the wider area though. It has been posited that various hollows in the landscape are solution hollows from whence stones were extracted. A scan from The Stonehenge Landscape by Bowden et al  shows this:




Against this is the absence from the landscape of smaller sarsens, in the landscape around Avebury, for instance, everywhere and every old structure has sarsens. Around Stonehenge there are only a very few sarsen pebbles in the fields.

The Hidden Landscape project which scanned under the ground found none, below is their scan of the area in the diagram above. It wasn't just at Durrington Walls they didn't find buried sarsens.


Click to enlarge pictures.

I think it is unlikely there were any large sarsens in any number near Stonehenge.