Avebury World Heritage Site management plan

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• Part One Introduction
• Part Two Evaluation and identification of key management issues
• Part Three Management Objectives and Strategy
• Part Four Implementing the Management Plan
• Bibliography

Figures and maps

• General location
• Car Parks and Transport Links
• Land Use and Archaeology
• Designations for Conservation
• Proposed Boundary Changes
• Visual Sensitivity
• Avebury Village and Henge
• Full Version

Dr Robert Bewley, Regional Director South West, English Heritage

The Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site (WHS) was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986 in recognition of the great achievements of our prehistoric ancestors and the outstanding universal value of these monuments. Avebury forms part of the only prehistoric World Heritage Site in England, recognised and protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. This Management Plan, for the period 2005-2011, aims to achieve a broad vision of the quality, significance, condition and management needs of the site and its intrinsic and enduring value. It highlights the international and national significance of the site and shows how its monuments and landscape will be preserved and treasured for all times. It also aims to protect the outstanding universal value of the WHS.

However it also has to gain acceptance and a commitment from all those involved in the management and conservation of Avebury. Avebury, as a place, has an intrinsic value for creating a better quality of life in the United Kingdom, and beyond. This commitment has been developing since the original management plan was published in 1998, not least through the involvement of so many local people, in all aspects of work at Avebury, including the creation of this Plan. However there is still much more that we can learn about Avebury and how best to manage the special challenges it poses.

There has been a huge amount of archaeological research, investigation and excavation in the Avebury landscape in the past decade. This has greatly increased our knowledge and understanding of the range and distribution of sites but also increased the significance of Avebury as a place, not least the medieval settlement and later buildings but also its prehistory. It is widely recognised that the major monuments, the henge, the stone circles, avenues, enclosures, burials, long barrows and Silbury Hill are a significant part of what is visible today but they are only a portion of a rich, deeper and wider, but less visible landscape, which is only starting to be understood.

The collapse of the Duke of Northumberland’s 1776 excavation shaft in the middle of Silbury Hill was one of the unexpected events (in 2000) which presented an enormous challenge for all concerned. In the period of this plan the aim is to have stabilised Silbury Hill so that there are no future surprises.

Thus the management and conservation needs are always changing and this new Plan addresses the issues of the long-term management of the major monuments as well as addressing the needs of the other sites and landscapes.

The creation of this Plan has been a collaborative effort, involving many individuals and organisations over several years, but one person has been the catalyst, bringing the Plan to fruition - Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger. As the co-ordinator for this part of the World Heritage Site, we owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her understanding and knowledge of the people, and the past, that makes Avebury such a special place.

Dr Robert Bewley
Bristol
July 2005

Last updated: 23 February 2011