Stonehenge

HC Deb 25 February 1958 vol 583 cc182-3

18. Mr. N. Nicolson

asked the Minister of Works whether he now has firm proposals for re-erecting the trilithon at Stonehenge.

Mr. Molson

Preparations at Stonehenge are starting this week, and all works involved in raising the trilithon have been arranged for completion within the next three to four months. From tomorrow a model will be available for inspection in the Upper Waiting Hall, and 1 can arrange for the operations to be explained in detail if requested.

Mr. Nicolson

May I thank my right hon. Friend for making this firm decision and for making the model available? Am I not correct in thinking that there is no question of faking Stonehenge but simply of re-erecting some of the original stones into the positions they were known to occupy until they fell less than 200 years ago?

Mr. Molson

My hon. Friend, who is a member of the Ancient Monuments Board, is entirely correct about this. We have no intention of trying to fake Stonehenge. It is believed that many of the stones were knocked down by the Romans, and it appears to us appropriate to leave them in the same position as they were put at the time by the Roman invaders. The only stones we are re-erecting are those which have fallen within quite recent times. What we are doing is in accordance with advice given by the Ancient Monuments Board.

Mr. F. Noel-Baker

While the right hon. Gentleman has these matters in mind, could he have another look at the plans of his Department for similar work on the stone circle at Avebury?

Mr. Molson

I will certainly look into that point.

Sir G. Nicholson

While accepting that these stones fell only 200 years ago, may I ask where the Department proposes to draw the line? Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the case of Stonehenge—the most ancient monument in Britain and the finest stone circle in the world—a large body of archaeological opinion considers his Department is making a great mistake?

Mr. Molson

I am always accustomed to being told that my Department is making a great mistake on every subject, but my hon. Friend has not indicated what he desires—whether we are raising too many stones, or that all the other stones should be raised.

Sir G. Nicholson

Leave them as they are.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

In view of the exaggerated implications in the last supplementary question, can the right hon. Gentleman say what bodies have advised against this move?

Mr. Molson

No body has advised me against it. The Ancient Monuments Board is in favour of it, and the two most distinguished archaeologists—both from Edinburgh University—Professor Stuart Piggott and Mr. Atkinson, who made a special study of it—are in favour of doing this.