Candlelight to launch henge restoration campaign
LANDSCAPE around a 5,000-year-old ancient monument site in North Yorkshire that has seen years of quarrying is to become the target of a restoration campaign.
More than 500 candles will be used to create a massive labyrinth on Saturday, September 22, at the central earthwork henge at Thornborough, between Bedale and Ripon, as part of the campaign to return a nearby cursus, or processional way, to what is believed to have been its original appearance.
The campaign is being led by local heritage group TimeWatch, which has described the area around the three henges as a sacred landscape for ancient people.
To begin the campaign and to recognise the site's ritual purpose, TimeWatch has invited religious and spiritual groups to join a ceremony beginning at 7pm on Saturday.
The ceremony, involving pagans, Christians and people from other faiths, will last for two hours and will include storytelling and a partial walk of the cursus. About 100 people are expected to attend.
TimeWatch was among the groups that opposed plans for further sand and gravel extraction by Tarmac Northern in the area near the henges. Planning permission was finally granted earlier this year at nearby Ladybridge Farm, half a mile from the nearest henge.
The Thornborough cursus, almost a mile long and about 60 yards wide, is thought to have been built 500 years before the henges, believed to be Britain's largest prehistoric religious gathering place. It was cleared to create a ceremonial causeway considered by some as a "spirit path" to return the soul to the heavens.
TimeWatch chairman George Chaplin said the cursus had been compared with the shaft in the king's chamber in the Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt. This was also aligned to Orion and was seen as a route for the passage of the soul of the Pharaoh.
Mr Chaplin said the ceremony on Saturday was a prelude to an attempt to win funding for a feasibility study aimed at restoring to their original levels parts of the site affected by earlier quarrying. It was hoped to flatten a mound of landfill, fill quarry ditches, create an ancient meadow with flowers and plants, make a circular walk and achieve better grazing land for farmers.
Mr Chaplin said: "Thornborough cursus is potentially the oldest major monument in the world aligned to the constellation Orion and is the largest monument at Thornborough. We think we can best protect Thornborough by helping to promote it as a site of international importance. Restoring the cursus will greatly help with this and have local and regional environmental and economic benefits."
A spokesman for Tarmac Northern urged visitors not to damage the earthworks or to leave litter. He said the company supported a secure future for the henges and was working with local and national interests to devise a conservation plan for the monument.
5:26pm Thursday 20th September 2007
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CommentPosted by: Tom Watts, Oldham, Lancashire. on 5:47pm Fri 21 Sep 07
The Thornborough Henges are as precious as the Pyramids and Stonehenge. And need to be cherished by us all.
The Thornborough Henges are as precious as the Pyramids and Stonehenge. And need to be cherished by us all.
Posted by: Thelma Wilcox, Bath on 8:53pm Fri 21 Sep 07
Thornborough Henges are important prehistoric monuments that deserve to be saved from destructive quarrying. It is to be hoped that at least some of the damage can be repaired and the area returned to a landscape in which these henges can be seen in their full glory.
Thornborough Henges are important prehistoric monuments that deserve to be saved from destructive quarrying. It is to be hoped that at least some of the damage can be repaired and the area returned to a landscape in which these henges can be seen in their full glory.
Posted by: Jake Kirkwood, Leeds on 9:55pm Fri 21 Sep 07
Its good to see such imaginative ways of campaigning to protect our heritage. Hopefully TimeWatch will get the backing they need for their plans.
Its good to see such imaginative ways of campaigning to protect our heritage. Hopefully TimeWatch will get the backing they need for their plans.
Posted by: James Q. Jacobs, USA on 4:58pm Sat 22 Sep 07
I commend TimeWatch's efforts and support preservation efforts.
At the same time, I view strictly religious/metaphysic
al interpretation of ancient monuments skeptically.
We lack clear understanding of the remote time under consideration. Current ideational interpretations depend on very limited material evidence, and often reflect more of current beliefs than past knowledge. The possibility that ancient henges and earthworks were astronomy constructs is plausible, and this view is supported by recent research.
I commend TimeWatch's efforts and support preservation efforts.
At the same time, I view strictly religious/metaphysic
al interpretation of ancient monuments skeptically.
We lack clear understanding of the remote time under consideration. Current ideational interpretations depend on very limited material evidence, and often reflect more of current beliefs than past knowledge. The possibility that ancient henges and earthworks were astronomy constructs is plausible, and this view is supported by recent research.
Posted by: Amelia Dektereff, Ripon on 4:56pm Sun 23 Sep 07
People do not understand the importance of these ancient wonders. Small minded people can not see further than their wallet and think it's fine to destroy them for greed. Who has the right to destroy something so wonderful, something that took brains, creativity and years of work.
People need to be educated in these historic monuments so they too can appreciate what wonderous things they are.
People do not understand the importance of these ancient wonders. Small minded people can not see further than their wallet and think it's fine to destroy them for greed. Who has the right to destroy something so wonderful, something that took brains, creativity and years of work.
People need to be educated in these historic monuments so they too can appreciate what wonderous things they are.
Posted by: George Chaplin, North yorkshire on 8:23am Tue 25 Sep 07
Thaks to all who attended the ceremony, it went very well and all who attended it found it to be a very moving experience.
Thanks again.
George
Thaks to all who attended the ceremony, it went very well and all who attended it found it to be a very moving experience.
Thanks again.
George
Posted by: Glen Fraser Kinch, Nottingham on 11:57am Fri 28 Sep 07
Thornboro' is the UK's most undervalued significant prehistoric site. It has been shamefully destroyed in part in very recent years, and deserves restoration and national recognition.
Thornboro' is the UK's most undervalued significant prehistoric site. It has been shamefully destroyed in part in very recent years, and deserves restoration and national recognition.
Posted by: neilsummerson on 7:17pm Sun 2 Dec 07
[bold]bold[/bold] it is about time lots of people opened their minds and see this and other sites as herritage of our for fathers which do hold the same principles and importance as for example the pyramids of egypt holds and just as important as worshiping places of the modern world.it is said that these places hold a tremdous amount of energy which beleive to be so
it is about time lots of people opened their minds and see this and other sites as herritage of our for fathers which do hold the same principles and importance as for example the pyramids of egypt holds and just as important as worshiping places of the modern world.it is said that these places hold a tremdous amount of energy which beleive to be so
Posted by: S McMahon, Guernsey, Channel Islands on 4:57pm Wed 9 Jan 08
I am so pleased that action is being taken to attempt to preserve these awe-inspiring prehistoric monuments. Good luck!
I am so pleased that action is being taken to attempt to preserve these awe-inspiring prehistoric monuments. Good luck!
Posted by: Keith Ball, Frome Somerset on 9:48pm Wed 16 Apr 08
I visited Thornborough during a recent holiday in the N Yorks moors. I was appalled and disgusted by the state of the site. It is clear that there has been real attempts to hide the site, by removal of signs to the village. Further there is no access, with all gates locked and no stiles. The henges themselves are in a disgraceful conditions with broken and rusting fences and farm machinery, ruining the effect and rabbit warrend damaging the structure. There is no signage and without maps and prior access to the internet. I found it impossible to work out which henge was which to the point that I was unable to find the third (wooded) henge. Despite these ignominies the two henges have incredible presence and I recommend that as many people as possible climb the gates and visit them, carefully and with the respect they deserve. The thought that this wonderful legacy could be further damaged by the proposed quarrying is horrific. Please support the campaigns to get these magnificent monuments and the landscape in which they lie protected.
Keith
I visited Thornborough during a recent holiday in the N Yorks moors. I was appalled and disgusted by the state of the site. It is clear that there has been real attempts to hide the site, by removal of signs to the village. Further there is no access, with all gates locked and no stiles. The henges themselves are in a disgraceful conditions with broken and rusting fences and farm machinery, ruining the effect and rabbit warrend damaging the structure. There is no signage and without maps and prior access to the internet. I found it impossible to work out which henge was which to the point that I was unable to find the third (wooded) henge. Despite these ignominies the two henges have incredible presence and I recommend that as many people as possible climb the gates and visit them, carefully and with the respect they deserve. The thought that this wonderful legacy could be further damaged by the proposed quarrying is horrific. Please support the campaigns to get these magnificent monuments and the landscape in which they lie protected.
Keith
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