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
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around The Sanctuary
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownTwo 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 PriorsWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadHarepit Way linear boundarySix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmBarrow on Smeathe's RidgePenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeterySite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Bowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonRybury campSharpridge field systemEarthwork NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentGroup of barrows on Draycott HillPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLangdean stone circleTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl 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 700m south-east of Windmill HillLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Avebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownLong barrow on Horton DownGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeterySouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Earthwork W of New Town FarmPreshute Down field systemBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Ten barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Bowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Wick Down Farm earthworkBowl barrow 500m west of The RowRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueWinterbourne Bassett moundTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryRichardson medieval settlementBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.All Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: 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 DownEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowSection of the WansdykeBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeThree Roman burial mounds, a Bronze Age bowl barrow, a pagan Saxon inhumation cemetery and a short length of Roman road on Overton Hill.Bowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningAvebury henge and stone circlesBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryLong barrow in Barrow CopseBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Bowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburySharpridge earthworksBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownDitch W of Tanhill FairSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBell 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 DownPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillStone circleWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownGrange Stables bell barrowGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBell barrow 200m north of Rockley Plantation.
