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:
Bowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Earth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillWinterbourne Bassett moundLangdean stone circlePair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Medieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBowl 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 cemeteryWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmThree 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 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Ditch W of Tanhill FairDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Grange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankWick Down Farm earthworkWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Knap Hill camp near Alton PriorsA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillGroup of barrows on Draycott HillSharpridge earthworksGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnRybury campEarthwork W of New Town FarmBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnPreshute Down field systemBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnBarrow S of WansdykeFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottagePair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmSection of the WansdykeTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownGrange Stables bell barrowPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.The Sanctuary, Overton HillTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Long barrow on Horton DownBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningStone circleGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Ogbourne Maizey Down round barrowBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyAvebury henge and stone circlesBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillBowl barrow 500m west of The RowPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsHarepit Way linear boundaryBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Avebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownSharpridge field systemThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryLong barrow in Barrow CopseWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownRichardson medieval settlementBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetEarthwork NW of New Town FarmPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl 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 Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton Down.
