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 forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Wansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonAvebury henge and stone circlesThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageLangdean stone circleEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Bowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownEarthwork NW of New Town FarmGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownThe Sanctuary, Overton HillRybury campSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Grange Stables bell barrowRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl 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.Two enclosures on Winterbourne DownSection of the WansdykeTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloePair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreBowl barrow 300m east of Ivy House FarmSharpridge field systemGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmEarthwork W of New Town FarmEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreHarepit Way linear boundaryBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetStone circleBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeterySix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownPreshute Down field systemThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresPair 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.Bowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Giant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Bell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownSharpridge earthworksBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeterySouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningPair 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 DownRichardson medieval settlementDitch W of Tanhill FairRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryWinterbourne Bassett moundLong barrow in Barrow CopseTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillWick Down Farm earthworkWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowLong barrow on Horton DownBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a 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 south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 500m west of The RowThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrow.
