The Sanctuary by JRL
The Sanctuary
In 1930, the location was re-discovered from Stukeley’s illustrations and the site was excavated. Further excavation, carried out in 1999, revealed a more complex sequence of construction and use than previously thought.
Five thousand years ago a timber shrine was built on this hill. Rebuilt and enlarged several times during the following thousand years, the old shrine was finally replaced by a double stone circle and linked by an avenue of stones to a new temple at Avebury.
The Sanctuary was probably built 4,500 years ago as a ceremonial site. The concrete marker posts show the position of the original stone and wooden posts. It is thought that the wooden posts formed the original monument, but were later replaced by the stones.
The Sanctuary is thought to have been used as a ceremonial site It was connected to the Aveburv stone circle by the West Kennet Avenue, a processional way. The monument was probably in use for about 500 years.
The Sanctuary is in North Wessex Downs AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Created: 27 November 2016 Edited: 29 November 2023
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around The Sanctuary
There are some historic monuments around including:
West Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Barrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnThree Roman burial mounds, a Bronze Age bowl barrow, a pagan Saxon inhumation cemetery and a short length of Roman road on Overton Hill.Group of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownWinterbourne Bassett moundGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 500m west of The RowTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Section of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonAvebury henge and stone circlesBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningEarthwork NW of New Town FarmA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Two round barrows W of New Town FarmTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnPreshute Down field systemWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmRichardson medieval settlementPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBell barrow 75m west of Red ShorePair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Grange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Round barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetLong barrow on Horton DownBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseRybury campBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteLangdean stone circleBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Barrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowDitch W of Tanhill FairGrange Stables bell barrowHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Saucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryLong barrow in Barrow CopseBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeSharpridge field systemBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageSharpridge earthworksAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmWick Down Farm earthworkPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownHarepit Way linear boundaryTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Earthwork W of New Town FarmRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningSection of the WansdykeTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryStone circleBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury Down.
