Stonehenge

Image taken from 1913 postcard supplied by Jay

Stonehenge is a highly emotive and complex issue and one the Warband has been involved with for some considerable time. From the days of the Stonehenge Free Festival in the Eighty's right up until the present day. There are several issues involved around the Stonehenge problem from both a religious and a libertarian point of view.

Along with the Glastonbury and Secular Order s of Druids and with the Backing and full support of The Council of British Druid Orders, the Loyal Arthurian Warband has campaigned for Free and open access for all at Solstice and Equinox

UPDATE 17 November 1999

Talks continue between Authoritative and Spiritual bodies in the hope of resolving this and other related issues. With regard to the Summer Solstice 2000, and a Press statement is hoped for in time for the Vernal Equinox of next year.

These talks include such bodies as English Heritage. Wiltshire Constabulary, The National Trust, Local Farmers, etc. on the one hand , and The Council of British Druid Orders, The Pagan Federation, Astrologers, Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Stonehenge, The Stonehenge Campaign, etc. on the other.

It is in the Spirit of compromise and co-operation rather than that of Confrontation that these issues will be solved

THE ISSUES

	English Heritage would claim Stonehenge to be a historic monument
	We on the other hand prefer to refer to it as a Living Temple.
	Wiltshire Constabulary are asked to enforce the Exclusion zone around Stonehenge
	We on the other hand believe that this is still (or should be ) a Free country.
	The Home secretary and his predecessors believe that gatherings lead to civil disturbance
	We on the other hand believe that any such gathering would be Organic and self policing and again that this is still a Free country.

Photograph by Marion Bridger

OUR CAMPAIGN

1998 saw English Heritage invite Druids and others back into Stonehenge for the Dawning of the Summer Solstice, for the first time in ten years whilst this year hopefully will see the relaxation of the Exclusion zone.( Which it did with mixed results, see Summer Solstice 99)

Progress has been very slow and fraught with pitfalls but our efforts do now seem to be reaping their rewards.