Arriving
at Avebury
When you arrive at Avebury you will be directed to the car park on
the edge of the village for which there is a charge, (National Trust
members free). There is a small car park in the village itself but
this is strictly for villagers themselves, though some minibus tours
are allowed.
Avebury village is largely situated within Avebury
henge itself. The A4361 road between Devizes and Swindon goes
through the henge using the old north and south entrances.
The main part of Avebury Village is to the west of the A4361. Its
basically a single road village called the High Street.
The High Street
Along the High Street is a general shop/Post Office and the Avebury
Henge Shop, a quirky souvenir shop most people prefer to the National
Trust shop by the barn.
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Avebury
Henge Shop |
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Most
of the High Street is made of private dwellings, many thatched like
the example pictured left.
The old school is now a community centre.
There are public toilets by the bus stop at the main road junction,
just before you come to the landmark Red Lion Pub that is thatched. |
St
James Church
Off the High Street is St James Church. You are welcome to enter most
of the time and it has a nice feel of a working community church.
The church of St. James has a long history going back to Saxon times,
though much of it you see now is medieval. Within is a rare example
of a medieval rood-loft once hidden but rediscovered in 1810. It also
contains a notable font believed to be of Saxon origin and later adorned
with some interesting carvings during the Norman period.
There is information posted and further literature available inside. |
St
James Church |
| At
the other end of the village on the other side of the main road is
the village chapel, now a tourist office. The village chapel is curious
as it is aligned north-south, not east-west. If there is anyone with
some dowsing rods available you can track a ley line that goes straight
down the aisle. |
National
Trust Area
On the north side of the High Street behind and around St James Church
is a broad area open to the public with many National Trust attractions
arranged in a village like setting complete with pond.
Avebury Manor is a Tudor manor house of monastic origin. You can take
a tour to part of the house and gardens most afternoons.
There are two museums that revolve around Alexander Keiller's involvement
with Avebury and tell the story of Avebury and what you are seeing
through the ages. |
Avebury
Manor House |
A
single ticket covers both museums. From the large barn that houses
one of the museums, guided walks of the henge taken by volunteers
take around an hour and are recommended.
There is also a Dovecote, normally open so you can see the perches
for the birds. A nice National Trust cafe provides high quality snacks
and meals that are slightly on the expensive side. The National Trust
shop is also here. |
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