You’d think finding when Solstice occurs is simple. You just tweet Prof Brian Cox or NASA. Job done. So it’s a surprise to read an official of the “Open Access to Stonehenge” group saying “As for how our access date is worked out from what I can gather, is a combination of factors:- Astrological time is worked out, up to midday and the access will be on the morning of that date. Midday onwards means access will be on the morning after…”
So is astrology used in deciding when Open Access happens? Well, it seems the President of the British Astrologers Association (who also helps organise Peace Stewards at Stonehenge) “liaises with English Heritage regarding Stonehenge access.” Just a wild guess but it’s possible EH are just being polite (what with astrology not being science, not making sense and not having anything to do with Stonehenge!) However, it’s a fact that the winter solstice celebration (at least) doesn’t accord with science for recent research clearly indicates it is held at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
That’s not sustainable long term for an organisation for which scientific evidence is paramount so it’s surprising there was no mention of the new research or any planned changes at last week’s Round Table meeting. It’s to be hoped an announcement is imminent and we can remove our “Make Stonehenge Winter Solstice more authentic” link from the left hand margin! [Outdated reference]
The Heritage Journal 
2 comments
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17/01/2013 at 09:56
Dean Phillips (WALLY)
Hi its Dean,would love to have conversations with you on many levels.I do understand your views and I beleive English Heretics (EH) deliberately cause many of the problems you talk of.
EH were originally formed in 1984-85 as Wiltshire Council,Wiltshire Constabulary and Thatcher Tory government were making plans to stop the annual gathering of the tribes at Stonehenge.This involved a trashing of the convoy (english familys living a nomadic lifestyle) the fortification of the stonehenge environs and a police operation that was costing the wiltshire tax payer millions of pounds.Monies better spent on facilities and education etc.Then for the next decade the stonehenge area became a war zone ,exclusion zone and the tension led on many occassions to violence and the fences at henge being thrown aside as the children of Albion returned to dance among the stones.
As you may have seen since 2000 there has been an uneasy peace on the plain.This is aided by the round table meetings.The Police have indicated that their budget will not sustain their operations for much longer .This means that the round table is an essential liason between EH and various groups that wish to attend the stonehenge gatherings.
Without this ,then access may well fail as a policy .What will not fail is the peoples determination to Be at Stonehenge .
AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN ??????
I cordially invite you to reply,enter into discussion and I also invite you to attend an RT meeting,to see what occurs.
It is a sham of equality and democracy .but it is the only sham we have x
19/01/2013 at 09:14
heritageaction
Hi Dean,
The article wasn’t about either the history of access or the Summer solstice but about the Winter solstice celebrations, now, and the fact that strong evidence has emerged that they are entirely at odds with the builders’ intentions. Putting that right is an aim that you, EH and just about everyone is likely to agree needs doing asap so things aren’t all gloom and doom!