Today was cloudy and rainy, so a perfect day to explore Stonehenge! It’s only a few minutes from our house, so it was time to check this place out up close and personal.
Zack was very excited to introduce his new lego man to Stonehenge.
After checking in and picking up our audio tour, we flew through the non-existent line and hopped on the bus. One mile up the road to Stonehenge. Thank goodness it was only a four minute drive. Zack and Andrew were starving and you can’t eat on the bus. Never mind they were supposed to eat before we left. I’m getting off topic….
This place is pretty amazing. Before going I only knew they were really old rocks and no one really knew why they were there or how they got there. There is so much more! So I can keep this all straight I’m going to pretend Stonehenge is a clock, with the four entry stones at 12.
The original entrance to the outer circle. You can tell it is the entrance by the four stones of same height, shaped, and smooth - and the perfectly aligned top stones. It is also the best preserved. It was meant to make a huge impression on the people who would have been coming to Stonehenge via the “Avenue”. From up high you can see the outline of a long ‘road’ that early people would have traveled to enter Stonehenge. This is where they put most of their time and effort. The back stones are not as smooth or even, suggesting the back was not as important to them, or not built as well. 12
This stone is next to the four entry stones. I think it looks like it has a face. 11:30
Two of the most adorable faces I’ve ever seen….
This is called the Heel Stone. It weighs about 40 tons and is at the very end of Stonehenge Avenue. During Summer Solstice if you stand in the middle of the stone circle looking towards the four rock entrance, you would see the sun rise directly over this heel stone. 12
This stone laying on the ground is called the Slaughter Stone. The myth is the stone was used to kill those that were sacrificed in the temple of the stone circle. When rain collects on the stone the water is red and it is said to be the blood of the victims seeping out. The true story is it used to be a standing stone like the others but fell in the 1700’s. The reason it turns the standing water red is become of the iron and algae in/on the stone. 12
All around Stonehenge are these mounds. I’ve noticed them, but never thought much about them. Apparently is was very important for these people to bury their dead within sight of Stonehenge. So these mounds are actually graves.
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This is my absolute favorite picture I took of the whole day. They were doing silly videos then admiring them together. I love when my kids get along so great! (3)
Andrew photobombing with his ever popular move….the dab.
These are the back stones. Many have fallen, some have been removed, and others have broken. The ones that are left upright are not as finely crafted as the front stones. They are rougher and not shaped as well.6
Of course Z has to go potty while we are up at the stones…and there is no bathroom. I take him to the back corner and try to block him with my purse, jacket, and umbrella – without being too obvious. This kid has no problem dropping his pants anywhere!
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It was starting to rain and everyone was cold. So we hopped on a bus and headed back to the visitor center. We bought a few mementos, hot cocoa, and an English Heritage version of Clue to play. All in all, it was an A+ kind of day.
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