Durrington: Neolithic Monuments and Church History

In Durrington, Neolithic monuments and archaeological traces meet church architecture and activities on the River Avon. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in the area, you can weigh up your travel interests: Woodhenge and Durrington Walls represent prehistoric themes, while the Church of All Saints offers a distinct focus on church history. There is also the Durrington Walls to Stonehenge walking trail and the opportunity to fish in the river. Which of these aspects appeals to you most is a useful starting point for your hotel search.

Woodhenge and Durrington Walls

Woodhenge is a Neolithic timber monument built around 2500 BC. It consisted of six concentric ovals of standing posts, surrounded by a bank and a ditch. The site was aligned with the sunrise at the summer solstice. The monument can therefore be understood through three distinct features: its arrangement of posts, the surrounding earthwork, and the direction in which it was aligned. It is the combination of its form and alignment that sets this description apart from a simple date. For your trip planning, this offers a specific archaeological focus if you are interested in Neolithic sites.

Durrington Walls is a large circular Neolithic earthwork about 500 metres in diameter. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of hundreds of houses there. The size of the earthwork and the house remains show two different aspects of the site: a large-scale enclosure on the one hand, and traces of buildings on the other. Around 4,000 years ago, thousands of people gathered at Durrington Walls for large midwinter feasts, where domestic pigs were eaten. This account of the feasts adds a specific insight into gatherings and food at the time to the site's architectural and archaeological features.

Woodhenge lies about 70 metres south of Durrington Walls. The two monuments can be distinguished by their locations and their different forms: Woodhenge is a timber monument with post ovals, while Durrington Walls is a circular earthwork.

Walking Trail and Cuckoo Stone

The Durrington Walls to Stonehenge walking trail starts at Woodhenge and passes the Cuckoo Stone. The Cuckoo Stone is a former standing stone and a site of Bronze Age cremation burials. Woodhenge marks the starting point of the trail, while the Cuckoo Stone is a named point along the route. If you plan to walk the trail, check local trail conditions beforehand, as they can change.

Church of All Saints

The Church of All Saints in Durrington is an Anglican parish church and is listed as a Grade II* building. The present church is built of dressed flint and ashlar. Its layout includes a chancel with a south vestry, a nave and a west tower. Its building features and materials offer a distinct architectural perspective alongside the prehistoric monuments.

Surviving furnishings from the 17th century include an altar table, a pulpit and a tower screen. These items add a specific period of furnishings to the description of the church. If you are choosing Durrington based on cultural themes, this church-focused perspective is clearly distinct from the prehistoric earthworks and house remains.

Fishing on the River Avon

Fishing is possible on the River Avon in Durrington. A rod licence, a permit or membership of the Salisbury District Angling Club is required. Licence and permit rules can change, so check the current conditions before fishing. This offers a different planning focus from the monuments or the church: fishing has a specific requirement, while the other themes centre on architectural forms, finds and historical context.

Discover more destinations: Edington, Tidworth, Trowbridge, Ludgershall, Stanton Saint Quintin, Charlton, Manningford Abbots, Melksham

For the wider travel overview: Wiltshire.