The Arts Society looks at the origins of Stonehenge
THE well-known broadcaster Julian Richards was the ideal choice of speaker for The Arts Society Wokingham’s first live lecture in 19 months.
His extensive knowledge soon had the audience of 67 members engaged and his wry sense of humour had even the camera man chuckling.
The Society was extremely fortunate to have the equipment and expertise of the Newbold Church technical team on hand which enable the lecture to be streamed live to the 50 members who were watching at home.
Julian started his talk on Stonehenge by explaining that this famous prehistoric stone circle is not the oldest or the biggest megalith but it is the most sophisticated.
We all take for granted the iconic lintels across the pillars not realising that they are held in place by mortise and tenon joints.
These sophisticated joints keep the lintels in place and horizontal even on sloping ground.
No one knows how these huge stones, some local and others from south Wales, were transported to Wiltshire, worked and then erected.
As the circle is pre-Iron Age (it was completed in 2020BC) we know that they were worked using stone implements.
Julian dispelled a few myths about the stone circle. It has been claimed to be built by the Druids as a place of worship but as the
Druids lived 1500 years later this is not possible.
The most likely theory is that it was a place of healing as the blue stones from the Preseli Hills, in Pembrokeshire, were said to have healing properties.
The orientation of the circle is indisputable.
The rising sun at the summer and winter solstices shines straight through the centre of the circle onto the altar stone. Julian’s view is that the winter solstice would have been more important than the summer solstice in prehistoric times as it signified the ‘turning of the year’. Spring was coming bringing with it new life.
Stonehenge had inspired painters, potters and poets through the ages. Tourists first started coming to the site in the late 19th century and in 1901 the site was fenced in and sightseers were charged 1 shilling admission,
Its instantly recognisable image has appeared on Wedgewood pottery, American pulp comics and Japanese phone cards.
Julian’s excellent illustrations, enthusiasm and relaxed style made the Society’s first hybrid lecture a night to remember.
With the continuing support of Newbold Church’s technical team the Society will be offering hybrid lectures to its members and guests for the rest of the season.
In-person and online guests are most welcome. Contact: memsecthearts societywham@gmail.com for details.
Better still, why not become a member and have access to these monthly illustrated lectures. Future talks cover a wide range of topics such as Peggy Guggenheim and the birth of mid-century Modernism, the revival of 15th century Timurid carpet designs, the Imperial Easter Eggs of Carl Fabergé, and the sculptures of Antony Gormley.
For full details of the programme, visit: www. TheArtsSocietyWokingham. org.uk