It seems this landscape is at risk:

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146410947&mode=thread&order=0

This could be big.

Grendel

Just to let you all know, I have arranged to meet local MP Tom Mould at Thornborough tomorrow, he is very pro archaeology and will be introducing me to some other local MP's so we can begin lobbying in order to save these monuments.

A group was set up some time ago to try to rally local support but they seem to have dissapeared.

Further developments, are that a further two henges of this sort have been identifed. One at Catterick and another on the Sunderland/Durham boarder. Its starting to look like this alignment will cover the whole of the north of england. Thornborough surely has to be the focus, the entire area of Thornborough is being quarried for Gravel by Tarmac. The central henge is already little more than an island. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get involved and I hope that I can count on your support.

As far as I am concerned, Thornborough is the Avebury of the north, I'm not trying to belittle any of the other henges but this is a serious alignment, one that is very poorly understood.

I have not taken up the protection mantle before, any tips/offers of help will be greatly appreciated. As I understand it Tarmac want to start clearing the area in 2006.

I have applied for www.friendsofthornborough.org and will be running a seperate website for the group.

In the absence of any published strategy for Thornborough by the friends, I have plaguerised their newsletter (with permission), which discusses Jan Hardings work, but not the preservatin issues, and have topped and tailed it with what I think should develop into a compelling argument not to grant further planning permission for development.

while the above domain registration is going through, the I am hosting the first draft page at

http://www.ancienteurope.info/friendsofthornborough/index.htm

I hope to get official pictures from Jan Harding in the week and also the addresses of people to email protests to. I'm sure Ripon Council has no idea how many people already visit these monuments on a regular basis.

What do you guys think as a first draft? most of the figures are made up, so any examples (how much did Sutton Hoo get?) of typical numbers would be of great help. I also need more info on the effect on the environment, I think it's important to have a well rounded view - archy, habitat, economic and social impact all go to strengthen the argument.

How many hanges are in the north compared to the south?

I have updated http://www.friendsofthornborough.org to include:

a more acurate (and disturbing) map of the quarrying areas.

Pictures of the landfill site, and the first quarry on the site, which tried to demoplish the central henge before it could be listed (and partially succeeded).

Contact details for our County Councillor.

I have written to the councillor as follows:

Hello,

My name is George Chaplin and I live in Newton le Willows, I was very concerned to here about Tarmacs forthcoming proposals to extend quarrying from the eastern to the western side of the Henges.

As I understand it, they are towards the end of the initial consulation stage for the Ladybridge extension, and that a formal application is expected within the next week are so.

I am contacting you to understand your approach to this potential proposal and to ask for some key information. I am a member of some 17 archaeological organisations, both local and national, and feel that my expert knowledge of the local area may prove invaluable.

If I may, I will list my questions:

1. Specifically with respect to Ladybridge, I would like to know what your approach to any future plans to quarry in this are are likely to be. I understand that the application has yet to be made, and you are not likely to pre-judge the outcome, but I need to understand your personal commitment to the archaeology in this area. I am aware that a large number of archaeological features have been identified in this are, so many that without the existence of the henges the location would be regarded as special and significant on it's own, comparablwe with a number of locations in the Yorkshire Moors.

2. Should any planning permission be requested for this area, who are likely to be on the committee that will scrutinise the request. Again I am aware that this "team" may not be formed at present, however there will certainly be a number of people who I can immeditaely start lobbying and providing information with regards to the archaeology of Thornborough and it's local environment. I intend to compile a report with respect to Thornborough, to help with this planning decision.

3. Could I also ask what your approach to the archaeology within Thornborough Moor, and what your feelings are towards any likely request for planning permission to quarry in this location would be?

4. It strikes me that an ancient monument as significant as Thornborough could be a significant tourist attraction if managed in the propper manner, has anyone researched the likely benefits of this in any detail? It seems odd that by creating the wetlands project, we seem to be removing any future exploitation of the henges for tourist purposes. As you are no doubt aware, the post hole alignments currently being destroyed by the quarrying are extremely significant and integral parts of the overall monument structure. Filling these spaces with water means the entire landscape of the henges will be lost forever.

5. May I ask what level of public debate the council has stimulated on the future of Thornborough? There were a lot of very surprised people at Saturdays meeting, Having been told about the importance of the henges and the surrounding area, to then find out that most of this area is likely to be destroyed in the very near future (with the obvious exception of the immediate vicinity of the henges) provoked a number of highly charged responses.

Thank you very much

George Chaplin