The ancient stone circle at Avebury is a remarkable archaeological treasure and Europe’s largest stone circle. Each year, it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and holds a World Heritage status. However, recent photographs released by Historic England shed light on a lesser-known chapter in Avebury’s history.
These images capture a group of men in the 1930s as they construct the stone circle. They reveal the restoration work that took place in the small Wiltshire village 90 years ago. Using trucks, ropes, and pulleys, the laborers transform an empty grassy area into the familiar stone circle we know today. The photographs show the team unearthing hidden stones, relocating them, and erecting them on new concrete plinths, hidden beneath the soil.
Surprisingly, these newly digitized photographs expose the fact that the ancient stone circle at Avebury is actually a restoration project carried out by Alexander Keiller, a wealthy marmalade tycoon, in the 1930s. This revelation shocked enthusiasts, many of whom were not aware of the circle’s restored nature. One member of the ‘Ancient and Sacred Sites of Avebury’ Facebook group commented, “I now feel conned by my own romantic imagination.”
The photographs were released by Historic England on their website, offering the public a glimpse into this captivating history. The story they unravel highlights Alexander Keiller’s acquisition of much of the land in Avebury, including the manor where he resided. Keiller, an avid amateur archaeologist with a fascination for the occult and sun worship, funded the restoration of the village’s ancient monument.
Experts in Avebury have acknowledged Keiller’s significant work in the prehistoric site during the late 1930s. One expert even praises his efforts, stating that “Keiller did a pretty good job actually. The stones are pretty much in the right places, although one might be upside down.” However, looking at the photographs, it becomes apparent that the restoration methods used, including trucks, gunpowder, and heavy machinery, differ significantly from the approach we would take today.
The need for Keiller’s restoration project arose from the shocking state of the stone circle, which had been almost entirely destroyed in previous centuries. Between the medieval period and the 18th century, the Neolithic standing stones were repeatedly demolished. Many of them were destroyed or buried. Christian groups, aiming to erase traces of pagan civilization, heated the massive sarsen rocks with bonfires before crushing them.
These extraordinary photographs shed light on the extent to which modern interpretation and restoration have shaped well-known historical sites like Avebury and Stonehenge. Visitors may have once believed that these monuments were left untouched by our ancestors, but the images reveal the reality. Visitors can freely walk among Avebury’s stones, some of which were erected as recently as 1938 and are supported by concrete plinths. Some stones are even upside down or missing, and concrete markers indicate the imagined locations of original stones.
While the release of these photographs may have shocked some, they offer a new perspective on Avebury’s history and the evolving nature of these ancient sites. As one visitor expressed, “The photos spell it out for the rest of us. I go there walking with my dog every week – but it will never feel the same now.”
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