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

A LiDAR Map showing the area around The Sanctuary

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 enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenuePair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownLangdean stone circleLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBarrow S of WansdykePair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated 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 DownBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowSection of the WansdykeBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreEarthwork NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownStone circleBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Silbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmSharpridge earthworksAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillRybury campBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryThree 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 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Three confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyPreshute Down field systemFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownLong barrow 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 DownBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow 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 800m south of Hemp KnollTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Richardson medieval settlementLong barrow in Barrow CopseRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillGroup 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 HillGrange Stables bell barrowBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillWinterbourne Bassett moundBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmWick Down Farm earthworkBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowSharpridge field systemPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Pair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Section of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillDitch W of Tanhill FairBowl 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 east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Avebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Saucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillHarepit Way linear boundaryPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpBowl barrow 500m west of The RowHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Beckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Shrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryEarthwork W of New Town FarmAvebury henge and stone circlesGroup of round barrows on Rough Hill.

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The Sanctuary map

The Sanctuary UK Map