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 N of WansdykeThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBarrow S of WansdykeGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownDitch W of Tanhill FairWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownLong barrow on Horton DownField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Two bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmRybury campSharpridge field systemTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageEnclosure on Horton DownPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownStone circlePenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnWick Down Farm earthworkBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Two round barrows W of New Town FarmBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowThree 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 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpHarepit Way linear boundarySection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottagePreshute Down field systemWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmSection of the WansdykeGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.A henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownEarthwork W of New Town FarmSharpridge earthworksThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownRichardson medieval settlementBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowGrange Stables bell barrowBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownWinterbourne Bassett moundBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Adam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownAvebury henge and stone circlesBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Earthwork NW of New Town FarmSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 500m west of The RowBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeLong barrow in Barrow CopseHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Bowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownLangdean stone circle.

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The Sanctuary map

The Sanctuary UK Map