There will be a celebration in Stanton Drew on the weekend of 22-23 July 2023, of the 300th anniversary of the visit of the celebrated antiquarian, William Stukeley.
Stanton Drew is the site of the most important stone circles in England, after Stonehenge and Avebury. There are three circles, of which the Great Circle is second only to Avebury in size, and a cove of three stones in the village.
William Stukeley was the leading antiquarian of the eighteenth century, and the first to perform a rigorous study of Avebury and Stonehenge. He visited Stanton Drew just the once, on the 23rd July 1723, but in that short time he produced a detailed plan, made several accurate drawings, and wrote an account that was to bring Stanton Drew to national prominence.
On Sunday 23rd July 2023, the exact 300th anniversary, there will be a day of events in the village, including tours of the stones and an exhibition.
The previous day, Saturday 22nd July, there will be a symposium of talks on William Stukeley, and the archaeology of Stanton Drew, given by leading academics and archaeologists.
For more information, and how to book for the tours and the symposium, see www.stukeley300.org.uk.
Stukeley 300 is a group set up to organise the Stukeley weekend celebrations at Stanton Drew in July 2023. The group has representatives from Stanton Drew Parish Council, Bristol and Avon Archaeological Society, Bath and Counties Archaeological Society, Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, and English Heritage. If you wish to contact us, please email the Secretary, John Richards, info@stukeley300.org.uk.
Drawing of the Cove is from William Stukeley, Itinerarium curiosum, Vol. 2 (London, 1776).