Hackpen Hill, England - 9th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
On the way home Helly stopped at the bottom of a hill called Hackpen Hill. On it, carved in the chalk, is a white horse.
It is believed it was carved in 1838 by the Parish Clerk of Broad Hinton to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837.
Hackpen Horse is one of eight white horses in Wiltshire.
All the horses were covered during the 1939-1945 war to avoid enemy recognition.
Hackpen Horse is best seen from the bottom. Unfortunately it is difficult to photo well from this distance so Helly bought a leaflet decribing all the horses for me to take home.
|
Posted Nov 11, 2007, 4:41 pm Last edited Nov 13, 2007, 4:48 pm by Steve & Helly
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Avebury, England - 13th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
On the way home from Helly's work today we stopped at a place called 'The Sanctuary'.
Right at the top of a hill, next to a very ancient footpath called The Ridgeway, The Sanctuary is thought to have been a ceremonial building.
I had to read the information very carefully as all that is on the site now are concrete posts to mark where the original wood and stone pillars were.
Some of the concrete marker posts are painted red and mark where the original stone pillars were. The blue posts mark where later stone pillars were placed.
From the top of the hill you can see for miles. I could see Silbury Hill, the top of which was, amazingly, exactly level with the horizon.
The Sanctuary also used to be joined up to Avebury by a ceremonial avenue of stones, many of which can still be seen nearer to Avebury itself.
I'm hoping to get some photos of Avebury tomorrow, if it's not raining.
|
Posted Nov 13, 2007, 4:48 pm Last edited Nov 13, 2007, 4:49 pm by Steve & Helly
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Cherhill, England - 14th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
First stop this morning, Cherhill, pronounced 'Cerill', to see one of Wiltshire's largest white horses.
I've passed this horse every morning since I've been here, on my way into Wroughton with Helly. It's an amazing sight.
It was cut under instructions shouted through a megaphone from the main road in 1780.
Unfortunately the sky was grey this morning and the photos aren't all that clear.
Yesterday I spotted another white horse, Marlborough's horse. Unfortunately the trees are still obscuring it. I'm hoping they will have lost their leaves before I go to my next host so I can get a photo.
|
Posted Nov 14, 2007, 5:17 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Avebury, England - 14th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
Next stop, Avebury.
This is another place I've passed through every morning but today we stopped. Avebury is the largest stone circle in Europe and it's wonderful. The road goes straight through the centre of the village and circle.
You can walk through the stones and there's enough space that people can spread out. Unlike Stonehenge, which Helly tells me is expensive to get into and you can't get really close to the stones.
Helly told me that last year she had a tour of Avebury by the Chief Druid. She's added a photo for me.
|
Posted Nov 14, 2007, 5:23 pm Last edited Nov 14, 2007, 5:26 pm by Steve & Helly
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Calne, England - 23rd November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
I've been very quiet this week.
Helly's not been well so I've been looking after Helga her car for the week while she gets better. She didn't want me catching her tummy bug so I didn't go anywhere near her!
Now poor Steve's caught the bug, so I'm glad I stayed where I was.
However, I'm off to Stonehenge on Sunday, which I'm really excited by, then it's goodbye to England as I go on with my travels.
Stonehenge here I come .....
|
Posted Nov 23, 2007, 5:58 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Westbury, England - 24th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
I wnet to visit Gary's 2CV barn today - see Pierre Bear.
On the way we took a slight detour so I could see the Westbury White Horse, the biggest white horse in Wiltshire.
I was looking at it from a long way away, I wonder how big it is close up?
|
Posted Nov 25, 2007, 4:06 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Stonehenge, England - 25th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
Joy of joys, I went to visit Stonehenge today.
It does look impressive. I was so excited.
I didn't go in as it's very expensive and I wouldn't have been able to get up close to the stones. However, I could see very well from outside the fence and get some good photos.
|
Posted Nov 25, 2007, 4:11 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Avebury, England - 25th November 2007
By: Steve & Helly
On my way home from Stonehenge I asked to be taken back in to Avebury to see The Avenue and the stone circle for one last time.
The avenue was a processional line of stones which you can still see. It led from Avebury stone circle right up to The Sanctuary.
I got some close up photos of the Avenue, although I could have walked among them if I'd wanted to.
|
Posted Nov 25, 2007, 4:23 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
|
|
|