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
Loading LiDAR
please wait...
please wait...
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around The Sanctuary
There are some historic monuments around including:
Earthwork W of New Town FarmThree 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 cemeteryDitch W of Tanhill FairSection of the WansdykeGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Bowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownHarepit Way linear boundaryWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadLong barrow in Barrow CopseThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Barrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownLangdean stone circleBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnWick Down Farm earthworkGroup of barrows on Draycott HillEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryPreshute Down field systemBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnGrange Stables bell barrowGroup of round barrows on Rough HillEarthwork NW of New Town FarmSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowEnclosure on Horton DownEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillBowl 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 DownBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsThe Sanctuary, Overton HillGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Pair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownWinterbourne Bassett moundBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationRichardson medieval settlementBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollSharpridge earthworksPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Avebury henge and stone circlesBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownStone circleSharpridge field systemSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLong barrow on Horton DownTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Site of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Bowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryRybury campRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningBowl barrow 500m west of The RowBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownThree 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 situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteBowl 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 DownBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Iron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownBarrow on Smeathe's Ridge.
