On the morning of the winter solstice, the Wyrd Wessex team, Andy and Craig, journeyed to the ancient landscape of Avebury. Forgoing the busy crowds at Stonehenge, they joined a smaller, more intimate gathering to witness the sunrise and explore the history and folklore of one of England's most magical places. This episode is more than just a broadcast; it's a field trip into a living monument, steeped in tales of ghosts, mythical beings, and very real historical mysteries.
The Living Stone Circle
The episode opens with the hosts braving the cold, observing the black dots of people gathered on the ridge as the sun, hidden behind thick clouds, struggles to rise. It’s an act of faith, a modern ritual connecting them to centuries of tradition. To understand this deep connection, they speak with Jim Saunders, a Druid of the Bardic Path in Avebury. Jim, who has been coming to the site since 1993, describes his role as a shepherd of the faith. He explains that for him, the solstice is a crucial part of the Earth's natural cycle, a way to stay grounded and connected to the land. As he says, "Everything is circles within circles within circles... Everything explains everything."
Tales from the Stones
The stones themselves hold some of the landscape’s darkest secrets. The hosts stand before the Barber Stone, a massive sarsen with a grim past. In 1938, an archaeologist unearthed the skeletal remains of a medieval barber-surgeon beneath it, along with his tools. While one theory suggests he was a pious traveler crushed while trying to topple the pagan stone, a second, more sinister, theory suggests he was the victim of foul play, his body deliberately buried beneath it.
Even the ancient beech trees at the edge of the circle whisper their own weird tales. Their creeping, gnarled roots seemingly poised to get up and walk away. It is said that these very trees were the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Treebeard and the Ents, a testament to how the landscape’s magic has seeped into modern folklore.
The Ghosts of Avebury
Just a short walk from the stones is the Red Lion Pub, a 400-year-old inn with a reputation for being haunted. The most famous spirit is Flory, a woman from the 17th century who, in a fit of rage, murdered both her lover and her husband before being thrown down a well. Her ghost is said to linger, perhaps still seeking her lost love—and she is rumored to have a peculiar affinity for bearded men.
The Mystery of the Mound
The journey continues to Silbury Hill, a colossal, man-made mound towering over the countryside. Its purpose remains one of archaeology's great mysteries, especially since, unlike the Egyptian pyramids of similar scale, it contains no evidence of a burial. Local legend adds to the intrigue, suggesting it is the final resting place of King Sil, who is buried upside down on a golden horse. However, the most modern tale of weirdness comes from a police sergeant who, in 2009, reported seeing two tall, blonde-haired aliens examining a freshly made crop circle nearby before they ran away "faster than any man he had ever seen."
Beyond the Henge
The hosts’ expedition extends beyond the famous sites to two hidden churches. They visit St. Mary's Church, a Saxon house of worship where recent restoration work revealed long-forgotten medieval paintings, believed to have been hidden for over 500 years. At a second church, they discover a hidden trapdoor containing offerings left by visitors. Below, they find ancient sarsen stones and a yew tree, suggesting the site was considered sacred long before the Christian church was built, a testament to how old beliefs often find a way to persist under the surface.
This special episode is a perfect example of what Wyrd Wessex is all about. It's a reminder that history isn't just dry facts in a book; it's a living, breathing thing, full of ghosts, folklore, and mysterious forces that still influence us today.
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