Saturday, June 6, 2026

Avebury, 2026: The Manor House

We never miss a National Trust house, great or not-terribly-great, and, upon entering this one, we had to ask ourselves, having visited Avebury so often in the past 46 years, how did we miss it? Turns out the house was acquired by the Trust only "fairly recently" and was not open to the public until just the last decade or so. There was also a major flood that closed it down for a couple years. It's not one of the great great houses, but it's in a special place and of interest because of that.

As with all houses of its age, it started off more modestly and got 
added onto again and again and again as the centuries passed

Approaching through the garden
























Another Laburnum tease

National Trust house decor is usually carefully chosen,
either to the appropriate site or age...not sure this art deco
sconce was quite right for Avebury...

On the other hand, I had to look up the word "sconce" 
just to be sure, so maybe I'll let the rest of the pix speak
for themselves...

The house has been here for a while...click

























We have one like this...






















So if your village or dwelling is enveloped by a ring of stones placed
there by Satan, you might be a bit superstitious and want to surround
yourself with all manner of preventative paraphernalia...

Thus

And thus

More history

More recent

Interesting place; glad we finally made it


Friday, June 5, 2026

Avebury, 2026: The Rocks

Our interest in megaliths was already going strong when we first visited Europe in 1979, and Avebury was among the things we most wanted to see. We took our daughters there in 1989 and again in 1998, and have been back several more times. It's the largest of all the stone circles, far less touristed than Stonehenge, and always impressive. Now administered by the National Trust, it also includes the manor house, the church, and any number of other buildings in or near the stone circle. Previous blogposts include:

https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2009/11/avebury.html
https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2009/11/lesser-known-sites-of-avebury.html
https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2013/06/avebury-2013.html
https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2013/08/avebury-again-2013.html.

1979 megalith hunter; it was a lot more challenging in those days...







1989 view

























With Rebecca and Rachel, 1998
























With Rebecca and Penelope, 2013














Extraterrestrial alien from outer space view, 2013





Note especially the photo view [click to enlarge] with the village 
within the circle

The thing is so huge you can never capture more than a few degrees 
of the arc


The huge barn that now serves as the National Trust's welcome and
reception center

Just a few specimen scenes from the small museum

Helpful map


Unusual dorsal view

The Christian residents spent centuries trying to destroy
or topple the stones--the work of the devil, they apparently
thought (same approach in Brittany, although they merely
defaced the megaliths there, "Christianizing" them)--
uncharacteristically, I left this little Christianzer stand*



"Gimme that old time religion"...more commonly at Stonehenge but also
at Avebury, one finds these New Age-y groups--this one evidently a
tour led by the gent on the right...




































Now he is drumming and chanting and who knows what...
note that the woman in green (previous frame)  has vanished..
perhaps transported to the 30th century BCE
























Seventh try but still not taking her to Jamie and the 18th
century...maybe should be doing this in Scotland?



Note village within

The pyramid marks the spot where a stone once stood...there are too
many of these

Note also the ditch and bank...among the largest you'll see anywhere

One of the circles within the circle



































































































*which reminds me to promote my recent "Life of Jesus H. Christ in LEGO," at https://artificialartifices.blogspot.com/2026/05/new-testament-iconography-in-lego.html


Thursday, June 4, 2026

Newark Park, 2

 Continuing our visit to Newark Park, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire...

Among the antiques


Crennellation...in days of yore, would have required consent of the
monarch; nowadays, maybe a zoning permit? Maybe...

The bookshop...always worth a close look...unless you're traveling lite

Amenities

Historic map of the area


Every now and then, after a more serious intervention or
restoration, the Trust will leave a hole open for you to
see the, for example, 16th century construction material
and technique; always fascinating and informative; and
sometimes makes you more aware of the emergency exits

Note the Proclis and Cephalus painting; also the quilt

Amenities, II



Very collectible blue glass



Swan collection: theorized that Parsons and Claydon asked
their numerous guests to bring contributions

More on Parsons, who saved the house and grounds

The house sits on a Cotswold escarpment...great views

Thus...[click]


A large (maybe 2 feet high) French musical automaton,
said, by the docent, to have been brought to the house by a
visitor and left there...the Trust still pondering what to do
with it

Ever vigilant

In the garden


Memorable place


Cotswold rush-hour grid-lock