Another variation on the entrainment theme......
I've been having a big clear-out in readiness for the painter to move into my study, and I found this old press cutting from 1989. In that year the local organisers of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust conceived a cunning plan which involved carrying two bluestones from somewhere near Carn Meini and off to Stonehenge. One stone weighed 2.5 tonnes and the other 3.5 tonnes. The Lady Marcher, Hyacinthe Hawkesworth (I kid you not) kindly donated the stones from Barony land; the RAF agreed to do the lifts with a Chinook helicopter; and Pembrokeshire County Council loaned a lorry to take the stones by road to Stonehenge. The photo shows the first lift.
All went very smoothly, and a lot of money was raised. As far as I know, both of the bluestones were taken to Stonehenge. I assume that the one near the sarsen sledge is one of them. Where is the other?
There was another bluestone expedition in 1982, organized by one of the local Chambers of Trade. They carted a nice bluestone off to Stonehenge, but their planning was not very sophisticated, and EH refused to accept the gift. Rumour has it that it is still sitting somewhere in Amesbury.......
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Postscript, 15 Dec: Thanks to Pete for sending the pics of the stone in Amesbury, near the car park. Reproduced below, with his kind permission. A wonderful plaque! How many mistakes it is possible to cram into a very small space?
Isn't one of the Chinook stones beside the Waldo monument on Mynachlogddu Common? There is a plaque on a stone there saying so.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I seem to remember being on the Common in the eighties on a field trip led by you, where you made disparaging remarks about archaeologists and bluestones, showing this is not a recent aversion.
Dave
Thanks for pointing that out, Dave. Yes, you must be right. They probably used the larger stone as the Waldo Stone, and sent the smaller one to Stonehenge.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I have been saying rude things about certain archaeologists for a long time (not all of them, I hasten to add). They have been saying rude things about me too -- so that all adds up to a good-natured and healthy debate.
Just for the hell of it name an Archie you have said positive things about since 1965.
ReplyDeleteM
Sorry -- got it wrong on the stone front. The Waldo Stone is the other one -- the Cystic Fibrosis stone is on the other side of the road. Will do another post.
ReplyDeleteNP Figgis, Aubrey Burl, Steve Burrow, Sian Rees, David Field, George Children, George Nash, Anthony Johnson, Richard Atkinson, William Cunnington, William Hawley, Stephen Briggs.... enough. This is a stupid exercise. Believe it or not, I have even said nice things about the same people that I have said critical things about......
ReplyDeleteThere is an "ancient" standing stone in the Mendip Hills that was erected in 1983 by some cave diggers. I am reliably informed by the erectees, that the stone is now listed on sites of the megalithic portal ilk, and has obtained a place in the literature; even the Somerset HER. Not bad for a lump of digging spoil eh?
ReplyDeleteWon't say where; why spoil a good joke.
I had a similar spat with Robin Heath re the Russia Stones here in Pembs. He claims they have profound mystical / astrological importance, but the local farmer says he put them there, to get them out of the way......
ReplyDeletePerhaps because the truth is always more admirable than puerile jokes.
ReplyDeleteThis is what most of us strive for on this blog.
Those who do share this aim should find somewhere else after all most blogs are free to join.
M
My goodness gracious me -- you sound more like Kostas every day, Myris. You are not him in disguise, are you?
ReplyDeleteMind melded I have always been Kostas. No I am Kostas, No I am Kostas.
ReplyDeleteBeware gifted overbearing Greeks with no use for gee-gees.
M