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 300m east of Ivy House FarmMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownGroup of barrows on Draycott HillPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBell barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonLong barrow in Barrow CopseSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillLangdean stone circleBell 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 Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillEnclosure on Horton DownBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueRichardson medieval settlementTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownSection of the WansdykeSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeterySharpridge field systemBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 750m south-east of Barbury Castle FarmPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Horslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Section of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 880m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow 200m south 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 DownGiant's Grave (Martinsell Hill)Pair 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 DownPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl 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 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownFour 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.Shrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Devil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowBowl barrow 800m south-east of Barbury BarnBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Knap Hill camp near Alton PriorsBowl barrow 690m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeterySection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillThree 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 forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 50m north of Barrow FarmSharpridge earthworksWick Down Farm earthworkBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 750m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillWinterbourne Bassett moundBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollBowl barrow 500m west of The RowEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmStone circleThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentTwo bowl barrows 820m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryA 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 NW of New Town FarmBarrow on Smeathe's RidgeAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownRybury campEarthwork W of New Town FarmPreshute Down field systemBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl 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 DownBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBowl barrow 70m north of Rockley PlantationThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 620m north of Rockley Manor: part of the Rockley Plantation barrow cemeteryRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmHarepit Way linear boundaryBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnAvebury henge and stone circlesGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 1450m south of Barbury Castle FarmWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Pair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Two bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonOgbourne Maizey Down round barrowBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresGrange Stables bell barrowBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Round barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchBowl barrow and a saucer barrow 200m north of Rockley PlantationLong barrow on Horton DownBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnDitch W of Tanhill Fair.
