October 26, 2018

100 Days Centenary Countdown: Stonehenge

 

No, we haven’t made a mistake! As this week marks the moment Stonehenge was given as ‘a gift to the nation’, this 100 days centenary countdown case study will take a closer look at Stonehenge, and its environs, during the First World War. Cecil and Mary Chubb became the last private owners of the monument, signing it over to the people at an official ceremony held on the site on 26 October 1918. This occasion could itself be classed as a major Home Front event.

Stonehenge sits within a wider military training landscape today, and this was no different during the First World War. As the site is located within Salisbury Plain the surrounding area still retains many archaeological features relating to the First World War.

RFC Stone Henge

You wouldn’t think so looking at the landscape today, but a First World War airfield sat almost on top of Stonehenge during the war. RFC Stone Henge airfield was constructed in 1917 and used by the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps as a training base. The airfield allowed bombing training to take place within the nearby Salisbury Plain training area.

The airfield, covering 320 acres, sat less than 600 meters South-West of the main stone circle. Although the airfield saw extensive use it was eventually closed in 1921; leaving very few physical remains (as you can see in the aerial photograph above).

This report by English Heritage, now Historic England provides further information about this fascinating site.

Larkhill Military Railway

The Larkhill Military Railway served the nearby camps of Larkhill and Rollestone, as well as RFC Stone Henge. This railway was originally built to facilitate the construction of the camps and to bring in supplies. The railway eventually closed in 1924.

More information about the LMR can be on the Wiltshire at War website.

Training Camps and practice trenches

Stonehenge was surrounded by several training camps.

Nearby camps at Larkhill, Rollestone, Bustard, and Bulford were hives activity, with newly formed Battalions coming from far and wide coming to train in and around Salisbury Plain. Their training focussed heavily on the construction and maintenance of trench systems; many of the surviving earthworks have been recorded through Home Front Legacy. The site of Bulford Camp can be seen above.

The Bustard Trenches

The Bustard Trenches are a series of practice trenches dug and utilised by the Australian 3rd Division as part of training in readiness for the Battle of Messines in 1917. This set of trenches included craters caused by the detonation of mines. Trenches and mine crater were blown during Anzac exercises on 5 November 1916. (information courtesy of Richard Osgood, MOD). The infilled crater can be seen in the aerial photograph below.

Martin Brown’s First World War Fieldworks in England report for Historic England features further information about practice trenches of the First World War. Martin’s project data is also included within the Home Front Legacy dataset which will be published shortly.

The Bulford Kiwi

One of the most fascinating reminders of this period is the Bulford Kiwi. This emblem was cut into the hill above Sling camp by New Zealand troops in 1919 to commemorate their time in the area during the war.

Over to you

Our project data will soon be available through the Archaeology Data Service once we have finished processing the nearly 6,000 records. If you do spot any sites that haven’t been recorded please be sure to contact your local Historic Environment Record to ensure they are recorded.