Thornborough Henges
A report by Julian Gibsone on his visit to the Stonehenge
of the North and an update on the campaign to save the monuments from the
quarrymen.
On Monday the 8th
September 2003 I visited the Thornborough Henges in Yorkshire (site of
the first of Yorkshires crop circles). I was taken to them by Clare
Lindley who lives in Thornborough village.
Clare Lindley
She is very active in the
conservation of the site. She took me to the mid Henge which reveals the
sheer size of this site with one straight avenue leading south east to
one henge.
Mid Henge from Far Henge
This can be seen but has
been worn down over the years. The other straight avenue led to a henge
in the Northwest, which has been over grown by a wood. The area around
the site is flat countryside. This would be perfect for astronomical
alignments, as hills would be an obstruction.
Far Henge
The danger to the site can
be heard by the noise coming from the nearby landfill site. This can be
clearly seen together with the earlier gravel quarrying which has come
right up to the road that runs by the wooded Henge. A lake seems to be
under construction although I had my doubts about the water staying there
as I was looking at a massive empty hole in the ground.
Clare told me there are
plans to quarry right up to the boundaries of the Henges. This would be
tragic indeed.
I went on to visit the
Henge in the woods and was met by Jan Harding from Newcastle University
and his assistant Julia Dawson.
Jan Harding and Julia
Dawson
They showed me the key
features of this densely wooded site which Jan told me was one of the
best preserved henges thanks to the trees which now covered it.
Henge in Woods
As I wandered through the
trees of this amazing henge ‘The Blairwitch Project’ crossed my mind just
once or twice. I took my video shots and Jan and Julia carried on with
their survey work. I noticed the atmosphere of this Henge lost in the
trees was little unsettling. Jan Harding has just published his book
‘Henge Monuments of Britain’, through Tempest Books, in which
Thornborough Henge is featured. I am looking forward to getting hold of a
copy. I understand from Clare that BBC TV is going to be featuring the
site in October in a television programme.
Mid Henge
Mid Henge L_S from Wood Henge
Mid Henge to far Henge
All in all this is an
impressive site and the sheer scale of it makes it a wonder to behold.
Julian Gibsone
All images copyright
Julian Gibsone 2003
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