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:
Round barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownLong barrow in Barrow CopseAvebury henge and stone circlesWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonHarepit Way linear boundaryPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownRichardson medieval settlementEarthwork W of New Town FarmAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryStone circleTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Silbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmDitch W of Tanhill FairEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl barrow 500m west of The RowBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Two saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Bowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownGrange Stables bell barrowBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnLong barrow on Horton DownBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsEarthwork NW of New Town FarmSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmSharpridge field systemGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowPreshute Down field systemLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Bowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLangdean stone circleA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreSection of the WansdykeBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Rybury campGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Earthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Three bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnSharpridge earthworksEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationEnclosure on Horton DownThree 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 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Bell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownWinterbourne Bassett moundWick Down Farm earthworkThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemetery.
