Friday, February 3, 2023

3rd February 2023

 Well that was news this morning. Two of the three henges of Thornborough Henges has been handed over to the nation by the two firms that own them. The third henge is in private hands and is not in danger of development.  You may not have heard of the henges, three large bank and ditch henges running in an almost parallel course across the Yorkshire countryside.  Funnily enough they are resident in Rishi Sunak constitution of Ripon, though I hardly think he lives there. But perhaps he can gain from a little of the appreciation of handing back something to the country, after all we sold most everything off!

There was once an intention  of quarrying on the land and an enormous battle ensued, peaceful of course, so English Heritage must be jumping for joy that this 'ritual' site has been saved.

Slowly but surely we reclaim our past prehistory and learn to respect those that have gone before.  It just makes me happy.



An archaeological survey which gives more information about the site.

6 comments:

  1. Thank heavens for that. When you think of the damage done in the past by thoughtless Rev. antiquarians, the setting of train lines and roads, and the building of houses, this at least is a minor triumph. Sadly, they're too far away for me to ever visit.

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  2. Funnily enough they remind me of the 'Devil's Arrows' near Harrogate (never been) but again in a straightish line. There is, considering Yorkshire is a very large county, less prehistory here. But hhen there is the Rudston monolith in East Yorkshire, the largest standing stone in England.

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  3. Yes, I heard. At last a heartwarming story. Drone photography has really improved things.

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    1. It is a striking site Tom. There is a theory that it may have been modelled on Orion's three stars, and again the midwinter solstice is marked out by its entrances.

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  4. Nice to think of Mr and Mrs Sunak dancing there at sunrise on midsummer's day - no, I don't think so either.

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    1. Do you believe that they ever leave London John? The two henges were never under threat of being dismantled by Tarmac for quarrying it just happened that they quarried very near in the landscape, it has now been returned to a watery landscape for the wild birds.

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