specific details on possible collapse please..

Silbury Hill 180

Image by thesweetcheat

paul1970 Feb 4, 2005 18:22:50

So i read that silbury hill is literally doomed, reading the article it seems the hill is close to collapsing, so it seems that ill never get to walk to the top of the hill that captures mine and everybody else's imagination, from what i read it seems within a matter of months there's gonna be some kind of major 'indegestion' within the hill and its going to be reduced to nothing more than an old colliery 'slag' heap!...
Seeing as all i know is that years ago a shaft was driven down into the hill, is this the reason why the hill is in its present state, i recall as well somewhere rabbits are involved!???.

So seeing as this little hill is such a treasure to this country(it is isnt it?, i mean all those people who drive 100's of miles to climb its sides must surely warrant it such a 'noble' title.

Why dosent any Authority connected with the hill get off its fat arse and fix the problem??, or is it the case that said 'authority' are more likely to be found sat round the log fire at the local inn drinking shandy or... at a push 'kaliber' all ummming and arrrring over previous 'umms' and 'arrrrs'..

seems no one gives a toss to me...

Pete G Feb 4, 2005 18:30:52

Replying to paul1970

Urgent remedial work must be carried out to save Silbury Hill from collapse, English Heritage said yesterday. The threat to the 130ft mound, which is one of the West's most mysterious prehistoric monuments, was blamed on excavations made for a BBC TV documentary in the 1960s, presented by former Mastermind presenter Magnus Magnusson.

An English Heritage survey has revealed that the late Professor Richard Atkinson's tunnel, which was dug in 1968/69 was not, as previously thought, properly filled in.

The unexpected discovery is already causing minor internal collapses and 'voids' within Europe's largest man-made hill that will, in time, reach the surface. If unattended, it will damage highly significant deposits in the centre of the structure that contain its early history and perfectly preserved plant and animal remains.

English Heritage says it is considering three options:

Pumping chalk slurry into the voids.

Re-opening the tunnel and backfilling by hand.

As above, but supporting the tunnel to allow repeated access.

Respected West archaeologist Mike Pitts, editor of British Archaeology magazine which revealed the threat, urged English Heritage to act swiftly.

Source: Western Daily Post 4 February 2005

Jane Feb 4, 2005 19:53:21

Replying to paul1970

>'seems no one gives a toss to me...'

Thankfully, Paul1970, there are lots of people -especially round here- who give a very great toss indeed about Silbury.... see http://www.heritageaction.org/?page=campaigns_silburyhill

It's those miserable bastards at EH, in whose tender care Silbury is entrusted, who don't appear to know their arse from their elbow. Perhaps the lovely people at Heritage Action will issue a response to today's news?

jimit Feb 5, 2005 09:50:22

Replying to paul1970

Don't forget Paul, and others who don't know, that it is an absolute NO NO to climb the hill. It has been officially closed since the 70s for the reasons of erosion and, increasingly, of safety.

Rhiannon Feb 5, 2005 13:00:19

Replying to paul1970

what I want to know is why I heard about their decision to do something through (pardon me) a provincial rag like the Western Daily Press. I can't see anything on the EH website, I don't remember anyone on this forum mentioning it.. Am I just being stupid and it's been plastered everywhere for ages? If they've been evasive up to this point why slap it in the WDP? Can someone enlighten me? and now they've got their three options, when are they going to get ON with something?

Stonehenge - makes shedloads of cash. Money showered on it at the drop of a hat.
Silbury - pile of earth at the side of a road. Doesn't even have a gift shop. Drop it down the priority list.

Pete G Feb 7, 2005 19:17:27

Replying to paul1970

News signs have appeared around Silbury (swoon)
They are the same small badly written jobbies that were there in November but
methinks someone must be monitering this forum and actualy paying attention.

PeteG
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