Stonehenge

Trip Start Feb 15, 2008

Trip End May 31, 2008

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Where I stayed

Bath Backpackers Hostel

Flag of United Kingdom Bath, United Kingdom
Thursday, April 10, 2008

On the way out to Stonehenge is Old Sarum which is a huge earthwork raised in about 500 BC by Iron Age settles and latter occupied by the Romans, Saxons and Normans. By the 12th Century the site was a busy town occupied by a castle and cathedral. Lack of water and squabbles between military and church leaders led to the construction of a new town further down the river, now known as Salisbury. Work on the new town began in 1220 with its centrepiece being a magnificent soaring cathedral. Old Sarum was later abandon and fell into ruin. We were able to view this archaeological site with its steep embankments leading up to what remains of the military fort or castle. Also visible at the rear of the site are the footings of the original cathedral.

Stonehenge is unmistakeable as you approach the site on the A303 for Amesbury. There's a certain 'wow' about the place... it's kind of like 'look mum it's the Big Pineapple!' Stonehenge is probably the most sophisticated stone circle in the world

Jann at Old Sarum

. These giant stones have laid here for over 4000 years. The circle is built on the axis of the midsummer sunrise using bluestone quarried from a location over 380 km away. The actual purpose of the site and how it was that the stones were transported remains something of a mystery, though it is understood that stone circles such as these were used as early calendars. Entrance to either of these sites costs only �4, which is quite reasonable.

The last point of interest to see in this region was Salisbury Cathedral which took 38 years to build and was completed in 1238. The cathedral was originally Catholic though was changed to a Protestant place of worship after the reformation in the 1500s. This cathedral is Brittan's largest and features a central spire which towers to a height of 123m. The cathedral is inspiring and is certainly worth a visit. Having now seen Salisbury I made my way to the railway station for the short journey on to the historic city of Bath.

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